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More than 2,000 Georgia Tech student, faculty and alumni volunteers plan to celebrate the 10th anniversary of TEAM Buzz Community Service Day Oct. 21 just the way they have celebrated the others — putting in a full day of hard work.
The first TEAM Buzz Day was held in 1997 — the brainchild of Tony Chan, IE 94, MS Mgt 98 — as a way to involve Tech students with the local community.
"Tech Enhancing Atlanta Metro was created to provide an avenue for the Tech community to connect with the Atlanta community," Chan said. "Georgia Tech isn't just about academics or sports. We are a well-rounded school ready to share our resources and skills."
After receiving financial support from the administration, the student project soon evolved into a nationwide effort with volunteers from many Georgia Tech alumni clubs participating in community service projects in their own cities including landscaping at housing projects, schools and nursing homes, painting houses for low-income elderly residents, working at food banks, cleaning trails in parks and sponsoring blood drives.
Chan said more than 15,000 volunteers and 100 nonprofit agencies have donated time and resources to the projects in the last 10 years, including his favorites — planting trees along Tech Parkway in the inaugural year and the ongoing beautification of Reynoldstown, a low-income inner-city neighborhood.
"I just get such a sense of pride whenever I see them now," Chan said. "I would have never believed this would get so big."
Chan said he and the original group of volunteers plan to work on an as-yet-undecided project followed by a reunion party.
Senior manager of clubs Jane Stoner said about 40 Georgia Tech alumni clubs are expected to take part this year.
"Service to others is an integral part of Georgia Tech tradition," she said. "That's why our alumni clubs throughout the country will be promoting philanthropic spirit in their communities."
For more information on TEAM Buzz activities, contact Stoner at (404) 385-2216 or jane.stoner@alumni.gatech.edu. or visit http://gtalumni.org/teambuzz.
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