UTA Volunteers

The Big Event 2011 was a huge success!

... and now there are only

71 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG EVENT 2012!

About The Big Event

In 1982, Joe Nussbaum, then vice president of the Student Government Association at Texas A&M University, began The Big Event as a way to say thank you to Bryan-College Station — a community continuously supporting the university. Twenty-seven years later, The Big Event has grown to become the largest one-day student-run service project in the United States, presently occurring at 72 universities, including UT Arlington.

On April 21, 2012, an estimated 1,050 UT Arlington students, faculty, staff, and community members will unite in an effort to make a difference in our surrounding communities at 36 project sites. The Big Event is a prominent UT Arlington tradition and continues to grow each year.

The Big Event Today

The Big Event has seen tremendous growth over the past 10 years since the first event in 2000. The UTA Volunteers, a student-run group has coordinated The Big Event every spring since 2005. Participation grew in 2010 to reach over 800 volunteers completing projects at 54 different agency project sites and gave 3,600 hours of community service.

The event continues to gain momentum by attracting more volunteers, and providing more assistance to our community. Enthusiastic volunteers participate in various service project sites such as painting, landscaping, youth development workshops, and facility cleanup all on one BIG day.

Together, The Big Event and Global Youth Service Day activities have contributed to the City of Arlington recognized by America's Promise in January 2008 as a Top 100 Best Community for Young People.

Purpose of The Big Event

The mission of The Big Event is to plan and implement a day of community service and outreach involving UT Arlington students, faculty, staff, and community members in an effort to engage, educate, and mobilize volunteers throughout the community. The Big Event impacts the community by bringing the campus together with the surrounding community in an effort to show gratitude to those who help others. Numerous community-based and non-profit organizations and agencies benefit from volunteer efforts, as well as local residents, including those that provide services to children, senior citizens and low income families, or those that promote the quality of life, such as the Science Center at River Legacy Park, Arlington ISD, and the Texas Ramps Project. Volunteers are proud to help others improve the lives of the people who rely on these important services and facilities. The Big Event's theme is, "United, Mobilized, Ready To Serve".

The Volunteer Experience

Each year, we reach out to various community agencies such as parks, churches, city gardens, animal shelters, and community ministries. Volunteers will have the opportunity to complete special projects throughout the surrounding communities that impact the area in a BIG way. UT Arlington volunteers come from all areas of campus life including international organizations, sororities, fraternities, academic clubs, sports teams, staff departments, special interest groups, and professional organizations. Hard work, dedication, and Maverick pride are demonstrated by the volunteers who realize the importance of giving back. Each volunteer experience is uniquely different from mulching, cleaning, planting, building, and organizing, but all participants are engaged in a BIG way. Volunteers may entertain children during a spring festival, pick up litter, or lead a youth development workshop. Everyone is left with a lasting impression of making a difference in their community.

Safety is an important part of The Big Event. Site leaders inspect and visit each project in order to ensure the quality and safety of the location and collect required liability waiver forms from volunteers.

Due to the large number of volunteers, transportation to project sites is not available through The Big Event, so volunteers must coordinate their own travel.

How To Participate

Volunteers

The Big Event volunteers will arrive at their project sites on the morning of Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Once volunteers finish at their project site, they are invited to a Thank You Celebration at the UT Arlington UC Mall from noon to 2 p.m. to receive a free meal and enjoy music, activities, and guest speakers.

To volunteer, choose one of The Big Event project sites listed under Project Sites and download a required liability release form (see links directly below) to fill out and have ready to turn in to the site leader on the day of The Big Event.

Adult (18 or older) Release Form (DOC) or Adult (18 or older) Release Form (PDF)

Minor (younger than 18) Release Form (DOC) or Minor (younger than 18) Release Form (PDF)

Agencies, Non-profits, Neighborhood Associations, and Local Residents

To partner with The Big Event in providing a project site for volunteers, download a required agency project application (see links directly below) and fill out and return by fax or email to The Big Event Committee at 817-272-2962 or thebigevent@uta.edu by Friday, February 10, 2012. Notifications concerning the number of volunteers registered per project site will be emailed and followed up with a phone call a week or more in advance before The Big Event.

The Big Event Project Application (DOCX) or The Big Event Project Application (PDF)

On the day of The Big Event, every project site will have waivers passed out by project Site Leaders to be filled out by volunteers before the project begins. If your agency requires volunteers to sign a waiver/form of any kind when volunteering at your project site, it needs to be e-mailed to The Big Event Committee no later than February 17, 2012.

Site Leaders

Site leaders are provided with training for directing volunteers and ensuring project site safety, communication skills, forming relationships with agency contacts and giving back to the community. Sign up to be a site leader at a project site by downloading the site leader application form (see links below). Email or return the form no later than March 11 at 5 p.m. to Bonnie Rodriguez at bonnie@uta.edu, or hand deliver the application to the Student Activities Office, lower level, E.H. Hereford University Center.

All site leaders are required to attend at least one training session either on March 23 or March 25 from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. in College Hall, room 101.

Site Leader Application (DOC) or Site Leader Application (PDF)

Sponsors and Donors: Why Support The Big Event?

The Big Event is one of many partnership opportunities for local businesses and companies. Each sponsorship offers a variety of benefits, visibility and more importantly, return on your investment. Becoming a sponsor of The Big Event would:

Associate your business with the largest day of service at UT Arlington
Expose your company's name and/or logo to more than 32,000 students plus, faculty and staff and countless other members of the Maverick community
Recognize your establishment throughout the community as a sponsor of service

Sponsorships play a crucial role in developing The Big Event as we continue to grow from year to year. The Big Event allows the students, faculty, staff and administrators to express their gratitude to the entire community, which supports UT Arlington. Volunteers help the community in so many ways. Beyond the labor provided for each project, participants of The Big Event arrive with all supplies needed to complete each project, which in some cases the organizations cannot afford.

Each year our needs include:

Breakfast for volunteers
Supplies for each project
Meal for volunteers
Entertainment following the completion of The Big Event projects
T-shirts for all participants

As a sponsor you will have access to an elite group of students, faculty and staff. For more information about The Big Event visit www.uta.edu/thebigevent. If you have questions about becoming a sponsor or donor, please call 817-272-2963.

Contact Us

The Big Event Committee
University of Texas at Arlington
P.O. Box 19348
Arlington, TX 76019-9348
Office: 817-272-2963
Fax: 817-272-2962

The Big Event Coordinator is Mandy Boxill (Email: thebigevent@uta.edu)
Director of University Events is PK Kelly (Email: pk@uta.edu)

Thank you so much for you interest in helping to make The Big Event at UT Arlington the best it can be!

For questions or concerns or if you need special accommodations to fully participate in The Big Event call 817-272-2963. For Relay calls, please call 1-800-RELAYTX. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodations.

The opinions and views expressed at these events do not represent the views of UT Arlington.

Project Sites

Project Sites will be announced February 27, 2012

The Big Event is sponsored by University Events, The Big Event Committee, and the Division of Student Affairs.



		home \| committees \| be the change \| events \| current opportunities \| alternative break \| meetings The Big Event 2011 was a huge success! ... and now there are only 71 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG EVENT 2012! About The Big Event The Big Event Today Purpose of The Big Event The Volunteer Experience How To Participate Sponsors and Donors: Why Support The Big Event? Contact Us Project Sites About The Big Event In 1982, Joe Nussbaum, then vice president of the Student Government Association at Texas A&M University, began The Big Event as a way to say thank you to Bryan-College Station — a community continuously supporting the university. Twenty-seven years later, The Big Event has grown to become the largest one-day student-run service project in the United States, presently occurring at 72 universities, including UT Arlington. On April 21, 2012, an estimated 1,050 UT Arlington students, faculty, staff, and community members will unite in an effort to make a difference in our surrounding communities at 36 project sites. The Big Event is a prominent UT Arlington tradition and continues to grow each year. The Big Event Today The Big Event has seen tremendous growth over the past 10 years since the first event in 2000. The UTA Volunteers, a student-run group has coordinated The Big Event every spring since 2005. Participation grew in 2010 to reach over 800 volunteers completing projects at 54 different agency project sites and gave 3,600 hours of community service. The event continues to gain momentum by attracting more volunteers, and providing more assistance to our community. Enthusiastic volunteers participate in various service project sites such as painting, landscaping, youth development workshops, and facility cleanup all on one BIG day. Together, The Big Event and Global Youth Service Day activities have contributed to the City of Arlington recognized by America's Promise in January 2008 as a Top 100 Best Community for Young People. Purpose of The Big Event The mission of The Big Event is to plan and implement a day of community service and outreach involving UT Arlington students, faculty, staff, and community members in an effort to engage, educate, and mobilize volunteers throughout the community. The Big Event impacts the community by bringing the campus together with the surrounding community in an effort to show gratitude to those who help others. Numerous community-based and non-profit organizations and agencies benefit from volunteer efforts, as well as local residents, including those that provide services to children, senior citizens and low income families, or those that promote the quality of life, such as the Science Center at River Legacy Park, Arlington ISD, and the Texas Ramps Project. Volunteers are proud to help others improve the lives of the people who rely on these important services and facilities. The Big Event's theme is, "United, Mobilized, Ready To Serve". The Volunteer Experience Each year, we reach out to various community agencies such as parks, churches, city gardens, animal shelters, and community ministries. Volunteers will have the opportunity to complete special projects throughout the surrounding communities that impact the area in a BIG way. UT Arlington volunteers come from all areas of campus life including international organizations, sororities, fraternities, academic clubs, sports teams, staff departments, special interest groups, and professional organizations. Hard work, dedication, and Maverick pride are demonstrated by the volunteers who realize the importance of giving back. Each volunteer experience is uniquely different from mulching, cleaning, planting, building, and organizing, but all participants are engaged in a BIG way. Volunteers may entertain children during a spring festival, pick up litter, or lead a youth development workshop. Everyone is left with a lasting impression of making a difference in their community. Safety is an important part of The Big Event. Site leaders inspect and visit each project in order to ensure the quality and safety of the location and collect required liability waiver forms from volunteers. Due to the large number of volunteers, transportation to project sites is not available through The Big Event, so volunteers must coordinate their own travel. How To Participate Volunteers The Big Event volunteers will arrive at their project sites on the morning of Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Once volunteers finish at their project site, they are invited to a Thank You Celebration at the UT Arlington UC Mall from noon to 2 p.m. to receive a free meal and enjoy music, activities, and guest speakers. To volunteer, choose one of The Big Event project sites listed under Project Sites and download a required liability release form (see links directly below) to fill out and have ready to turn in to the site leader on the day of The Big Event. Adult (18 or older) Release Form (DOC) or Adult (18 or older) Release Form (PDF) Minor (younger than 18) Release Form (DOC) or Minor (younger than 18) Release Form (PDF) Agencies, Non-profits, Neighborhood Associations, and Local Residents To partner with The Big Event in providing a project site for volunteers, download a required agency project application (see links directly below) and fill out and return by fax or email to The Big Event Committee at 817-272-2962 or thebigevent@uta.edu by Friday, February 10, 2012. Notifications concerning the number of volunteers registered per project site will be emailed and followed up with a phone call a week or more in advance before The Big Event. The Big Event Project Application (DOCX) or The Big Event Project Application (PDF) On the day of The Big Event, every project site will have waivers passed out by project Site Leaders to be filled out by volunteers before the project begins. If your agency requires volunteers to sign a waiver/form of any kind when volunteering at your project site, it needs to be e-mailed to The Big Event Committee no later than February 17, 2012. Site Leaders Site leaders are provided with training for directing volunteers and ensuring project site safety, communication skills, forming relationships with agency contacts and giving back to the community. Sign up to be a site leader at a project site by downloading the site leader application form (see links below). Email or return the form no later than March 11 at 5 p.m. to Bonnie Rodriguez at bonnie@uta.edu, or hand deliver the application to the Student Activities Office, lower level, E.H. Hereford University Center. All site leaders are required to attend at least one training session either on March 23 or March 25 from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. in College Hall, room 101. Site Leader Application (DOC) or Site Leader Application (PDF) Sponsors and Donors: Why Support The Big Event? The Big Event is one of many partnership opportunities for local businesses and companies. Each sponsorship offers a variety of benefits, visibility and more importantly, return on your investment. Becoming a sponsor of The Big Event would: Associate your business with the largest day of service at UT Arlington Expose your company's name and/or logo to more than 32,000 students plus, faculty and staff and countless other members of the Maverick community Recognize your establishment throughout the community as a sponsor of service Sponsorships play a crucial role in developing The Big Event as we continue to grow from year to year. The Big Event allows the students, faculty, staff and administrators to express their gratitude to the entire community, which supports UT Arlington. Volunteers help the community in so many ways. Beyond the labor provided for each project, participants of The Big Event arrive with all supplies needed to complete each project, which in some cases the organizations cannot afford. Each year our needs include: Breakfast for volunteers Supplies for each project Meal for volunteers Entertainment following the completion of The Big Event projects T-shirts for all participants As a sponsor you will have access to an elite group of students, faculty and staff. For more information about The Big Event visit www.uta.edu/thebigevent. If you have questions about becoming a sponsor or donor, please call 817-272-2963. Contact Us The Big Event Committee University of Texas at Arlington P.O. Box 19348 Arlington, TX 76019-9348 Office: 817-272-2963 Fax: 817-272-2962 The Big Event Coordinator is Mandy Boxill (Email: thebigevent@uta.edu) Director of University Events is PK Kelly (Email: pk@uta.edu) Thank you so much for you interest in helping to make The Big Event at UT Arlington the best it can be! For questions or concerns or if you need special accommodations to fully participate in The Big Event call 817-272-2963. For Relay calls, please call 1-800-RELAYTX. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodations. The opinions and views expressed at these events do not represent the views of UT Arlington. Project Sites Project Sites will be announced February 27, 2012 The Big Event is sponsored by University Events, The Big Event Committee, and the Division of Student Affairs.

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