Tag Archives: volunteer

Featured Events Archive

Rock out to support the Adult Literacy Center

Walk to Lefty’s after work to enjoy Drake faculty and student ensembles in a benefit for the Drake Adult Literacy Center. Enjoy One Hundred Mondays, comprising School of Education faculty Tom Buckmiller, Michael Couvillon, Jerrid Kruse, and Matt Hayden, followed by a second faculty ensemble featuring Tim Knepper, Charlie Nelson, and Kirk Martin. Drake student Charlie Jaschek leads the student band, which also features:

  • Mike Wilson, saxophone
  • Ben McCartney, trumpet
  • Chris Walsh, bass
  • Steve Maynard, guitar

All proceeds from the $5 cover will go to the Adult Literacy Center, which relies on community donations to support its vital services in the community. More than 70 volunteer tutors from Drake and Greater Des Moines give 1–2 hours a week to assist adults learning to read. This is also the kickoff event for National Adult Education Family Literacy Week, Sept. 20–25.

Volunteer Tutor Training
Friday, Sept. 25, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Volunteers work one-on-one for 1–2 hours a week as a tutor/mentor with an adult who needs to improve his or her reading, writing, and comprehension skills. Tutoring is an opportunity to have a direct and positive impact in another person’s life. Learn how to structure lessons that teach reading basics and beyond.

—Submitted by Anne Murr, Coordinator, Adult Literacy Center

News & Achievements Archive

Rock out, show off your spelling skills, or volunteer to support the Adult Literacy Center

Three upcoming events highlight the Drake Adult Literacy Center and ways you can support adult literacy.

Benefit Concert
Friday, Sept. 18, 5–9 p.m.
Lefties, 2307 University Ave. in Dogtown

Walk to Lefty’s after work to enjoy Drake faculty and student ensembles in a benefit for the Drake Adult Literacy Center. Enjoy One Hundred Mondays, comprising School of Education faculty Tom Buckmiller, Michael Couvillon, Jerrid Kruse, and Matt Hayden, followed by a second faculty ensemble featuring Tim Knepper, Charlie Nelson, and Kirk Martin. Drake student Charlie Jaschek leads the student band.

All proceeds from the $5 cover will go to the Adult Literacy Center, which relies on community donations to support its vital services in the community. More than 70 volunteer tutors from Drake and Greater Des Moines give 1–2 hours a week to assist adults learning to read. This is also the kickoff event for National Adult Education Family Literacy Week, Sept. 20–25.


Volunteer Tutor Training
Friday, Sept. 25, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Volunteers work one-on-one for 1–2 hours a week as a tutor/mentor with an adult who needs to improve his or her reading, writing, and comprehension skills. Tutoring is an opportunity to have a direct and positive impact in another person’s life. Learn how to structure lessons that teach reading basics and beyond.


2nd Annual Adult Spelling Bee
Friday, Nov. 13
Olmsted Center

Teams of five compete in a friendly spelling competition to raise dollars and awareness about adult literacy in central Iowa.

For more information, contact anne.murr@drake.edu

—Submitted by Anne Murr, Coordinator, Adult Literacy Center

For Faculty Archive

Students seeking faculty participation for fundraiser

Dear faculty,

This year is the third annual St. Jude Up ’til Dawn event, an all night team challenge that raises money for the children of St. Jude. Last year we raised more than $31,000, and this year we have set our sights toward an even larger goal of $40,000.

Leading up to our event, we host multiple ramp-up events to encourage students to participate, teach them how to raise money, and educate them about St. Jude and all of the incredible things the organization does day in and day out. This year, we are seeking faculty participation in one of our ramp-up events but would like to gauge interest before getting too in-depth with the planning. We are considering doing either a buzz-off or a golden hair dye (the color representative of childhood cancer) with the faculty member that raises the most money from student donations within a specific time frame.

Our vision for this would be to set a week timeline in which students would donate to a jar in your room. The faculty member that has the most money in his or her jar at the end of the week would then participate in the buzz-off or golden hair dye. We are currently looking to have this event the last week of October. If this is something you would be interested in, please fill out this survey.

Thank you for your time,

Elise Damman and Christine Heath

—Submitted by Jill Batten, Interim Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Featured Events Archive

Drake Day at the Fair is Aug. 13

Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair, long associated with its signature blue-and-white tent along Rock Island Ave., has been revamped in 2015 with a new date, location, and format. Drake Day at the Fair will be held on the opening day of the fair—Thursday, Aug. 13—with “Discover Drake” events held throughout the day at our tent along Grand Avenue. This new, high-traffic space will be Drake’s home base for organizations and events including:

  • Meet-and-greet with President Earl F. “Marty” Martin, 11 a.m. to noon
  • Student-athletes
  • The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, which conducts research, provides programming and training, and publishes scholarly works focusing on leadership, ethics, and civility
  • The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement, which will hold a free drawing for an Apple TV
  • The RaySociety, Drake’s lifelong learning organization open to all individuals across Central Iowa

Drake will also have a booth in the Varied Industries Building every day of the fair. Volunteers are still needed to the VI Building (includes air-conditioning and complimentary food and drink)—sign up today!

News & Achievements Archive

Volunteer at the Iowa State Fair

Everyone loves going to the State Fair! If you want to get in for free and share your love for Drake with the community, the Community Engagement and Service-Learning Office can use your help! There are several changes to this year’s involvement with the State Fair including a bigger booth space in the Varied Industries Building.

Several volunteer shifts are still open at the VI building nearly every day of the fair. VI volunteers will serve a four-hour shift (in the air conditioning!) and be expected to chat with state fair goers, give away prizes, help visitors take photos at our selfie station, and more!

Sign up today and share your love for our Bulldog community at the fair.