DDP and Social Work Walk Governors State to Top Award

It can be difficult to realize the effect small acts of kindness can have, and the students of Governors State University (GSU) were just awarded for their kindness in a big way.

During a recent charity walk, Governors State won the Top Fundraising School Award at the Cancer Support Center’s annual Walk of Hope. The Social Work Student Organization (SWSO), along with Faculty Advisor Phyllis West, walked in the annual fundraiser which aims to raise money for the Cancer Support Center––a community-based, volunteer-driven, donor-supported organization that provides comprehensive resources to improve cancer patients’ quality of life at no charge. Together, they raised $450 for the Cancer Support Center.

This was Governors State’s first time participating and in addition to the students, faculty, staff and alumni that joined on the day of the walk, students in the Dual Degree Program (DDP) volunteered as part of their monthly required community service event. DDP student transition assistants, Peter Brassea and Isabella Cervantes, coordinated the event and then cheered on walkers and survivors at a designated cheer station on the course.

“It all came together because community and inclusion are hallmarks of DDP, SWSO, the Social Work student body, and GSU in general. It’s important to support and empower individuals in their current state of life, and for this event we focused on cancer patients and survivors,” said Brassea, BSW president of SWSO.

“We didn’t realize how significant this event was until it was over. It’s called ‘The Walk of Hope’ and once we volunteered for it, we saw the reason for the name.”