Cy's Days of Service

Iowa Staters coming together to serve others and their communities!

Every April, Everywhere

Cy’s Days of Service is designed to unite alumni worldwide in community service during the month of April, a month of strong tradition at ISU -- VEISHEA month! This month of service is a great opportunity to help spread the pride alumni have for Iowa State University, recognize the combined efforts of all alumni that have had a tremendous impact on local communities, and show how ISU alumni change the world.

For the second year, all ISU alumni, family, and friends have the entire month of April to complete a service opportunity of their choice that hits with their personal schedules and interests. This can be an opportunity people are already pursuing, or a new one that someone would like to try. Be sure to dress in ISU apparel to show your Cyclone pride.

How can I participate in Cy's Days of Service?
Let us know you are participating via our Facebook event page. Also, help us spread the word to fellow Cyclones by sharing the event. If you want to know what organized events are happening, check out the events calendar. If you don't see an organized event happening in your area, send information about what you are planning to Tillie Good (tbgood@iastate.edu) and we will add it to the calendar.

Once you have completed your project, be sure to log your hours and submit photos/videos here. Once the program is complete, photos/videos from events across the world will be available, along with the total hours logged by all alumni.

What should I wear?
Wear whatever you want, but of course we recommend ISU apparel! Did you know you can even get a custom T-shirt for your state of residence that declares you are a Cyclone?

Who can participate?
This event is open to all alumni and friends. You can participate by yourself, with fellow ISU alums, or even with your family. To let us know you're participating, visit our Facebook event page. Some local alumni clubs will also be organizing events. Please check our events calendar to see if the Alumni Association club in your area is organizing an event.

Prizes? I have a chance to win a prize?
We will be providing a prize for one individual in each of the following areas: best family photo, most hours completed by an individual, best ISU pride, best video, and best picture. To be eligible for a prize, an individual must log his or her hours and submit a photo/video where applicable.

What sorts of activities can I do?
Consider the following activities “to serve” in your area:

Donate blood
Serve food at a soup kitchen or shelter
Donate gently used clothing and toys to a second-hand store
Volunteer at your local hospital or retirement community
Assist at an area elementary, middle, or high school
Help beautify your city
Volunteer as a museum guide
Run or walk in a charity race
Help at your local animal shelter
Spend time with an elderly neighbor
Offer to babysit for a friend or relative (free of charge)
Help a friend with a home improvement project
Deliver meals to homebound individuals
Pick up litter in a local park or along a highway
Plant flowers at a city building
Volunteer at your local police station or fire department
Share your special talent with others, i.e. play guitar at a local coffee shop, teach a craft session at your community center, paint a scene from your town and donate the work to a local office
Donate food items to your local food bank
Plant a commemorative tree to honor someone
Adopt a zoo animal
Assist at a local sporting event
Volunteer at your local parks and recreation
Help someone learn to read
Hold a fundraiser for a local charity (car wash, pancake breakfast)
Donate books to your local library
Collect items to be recycled (glass bottles, newspapers, old phone books)
Volunteer at a local non-profit organization
Donate toiletry items to a local shelter
Mow lawns
Read to a child
Make kid-friendly items for your children’s hospital
Volunteer at a local fair or community event
Offer to teach your expertise to a local scout group (woodworking, automotive care, smart finances, astronomy, wildlife)
Donate school supplies to your local elementary, middle, and high school

What if I need more information or if I have questions?
Please feel free to contact Tillie Good at tbgood@iastate.edu or (515) 294-2584 (toll-free to 877-478-2586) with any questions or comments.

We are excited about Cy's Days of Service as it is an opportunity to allow Cyclones around the world to "come together" to give back to their local communities while showcasing Iowa State pride and one of ISU's great traditions--VEISHEA.

2012 Recap
During this month of service, the combined efforts of all alumni provided more than 1,500 hours of service worldwide! (View photo gallery.)

Total number of projects submitted: 178
Total number of service hours: 1,519.5
Number of states represented: 24
Oldest ISU grad participant: Neal Jennings ('49 civil engr) of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Most recent ISU grad participant: Kyle Petersen ('11 elec engr) of Boise, Idaho
Most service hours: 106 by Pat Olson ('72 computer sci) of Sugar Hill, Ga.
Closest project to ISU: Chris Olsen ('10 animal sci) of Ames
Farthest project from ISU: Charles Gollnick ('89 computer engr) of Sherwood, Ore.
State with the most participants (outside of Iowa): Kansas
Largest group: ISUAA Club of Kansas City
Best photo winner: Clyde Tiffany ('83 agronomy/ag mech) of Spicer, Minn.
Best family photo winner: Lindsey Long ('03 marketing) of Ames
Best ISU pride winner: ISUAA Club of Dallas-Fort Worth