In the midst of all the festivities taking place in Orlando surrounding the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29, the Notre Dame Alumni Association made it a priority to give back in a special way.
Alumni members and their families spent the day before the big game at the New Image Youth Center in downtown Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood. For years, the center has been a community haven that’s given youth a safe place to learn, play and develop into responsible young adults.
While at New Image, volunteers spruced up the front entrance, painted, assembled furniture, mulched the playground and led a neighborhood clean-up project.
For the youth served by the center, the biggest surprise was the arrival of the Notre Dame Cheerleading Squad and team mascot, Leprechaun Mike, who entertained everybody with stunts, cheers and photos.
Thanks to this generosity, the children were left with a lasting impression of Notre Dame, as well as the lesson that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, we all can make a difference.
Whitney James-Ordoñez, MPA
Heart of Florida United Way
Manager of Community Participation
