STREAK WEEK SERVICE PROJECT 2008

August 28, 2008 – The 3rd Annual “Streak Week Service Project” brought together 150 members of the Class of 2012, along with over 40 student and FSA leaders for entire of service to Cleveland's Hough Community and the Fatima Family Center. The Fatima Center is a non-profit multi-service center serving the Hough neighborhood and is sponsored Cleveland Catholic Charities.

In total, the work crews provided landscaping, painting, and cleaning assistance to twenty-one different residents throughout the Hough neighborhood.  Residents were ‘all smiles’ as they talked about the great things that happened as the students, faculty, and staff diligently worked on flower beds, front porches, and much more.  One resident was quoted as saying, “No one has ever done something for free for me.  The students did such a wonderful job and I am so grateful.  They really showed they care about others.”

In the afternoon, the group accomplished numerous tasks on the property of the Fatima Family Center and at Our Lady of Fatima-St. Agnes Catholic Parish.  LaJean Ray, Director of the Fatima Family Center, expressed her appreciation to the group at the end of the day, encouraging them to “come back again”. 

JCU President, Fr. Robert Niehoff, S.J., and members of the university executive team had a chance to visit the students and learn more about the efforts of the Fatima Center.  When commenting on the tour of the center and meeting with the director (LaJean Ray), Fr. Niehoff noted the impressive array of services Fatima is providing for people of all ages. 

John Carroll and the Fatima Family Center’s relationship grows each year.  It began in the late 1990’s with an annual food drive to benefit families associated with the center and has grown to include a legal fair staffed by JCU alumni lawyers, gifts for children from the center at Christmas time through JCU’s annual “Giving Tree”, hosting groups of Fatima teens for campus visits and week-long work experiences, service learning placements throughout the academic year, and much more. JCU has even been invited to participate in the Hough community's "A New Day in Hough" Parade each spring.

The Streak Week Service Project is co-sponsored by Campus Ministry and the Center for Service and Social Action.

Click HERE to view a gallery of photos from the day!