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RELEASED: December 13, 2001
DANVILLE, KY—An unusually warm fall Saturday might find many young men playing football or basketball outdoors. But the brothers of Centre College's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity recently spent such a day assisting elderly couples in Danville as a part of "Project Winterize."
For his efforts in the project, Centre College senior Matt Mooney has been named the school's December Volunteer of the Month.
The fraternity put in more than 600 hours helping elderly families by raking leaves, cleaning gutters, and providing whatever other assistance they needed.
"And not only did we help those families in those ways, but more importantly we had the privilege of talking with them, seeing their smiles, and knowing we had made a small difference," Mooney said.
"Project Winterize" is an annual service project of the brothers of the Kentucky Kappa chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The project was started by an SAE, Ned Frazer, who now works in the Admission Office at Centre.
Mooney sent letters to the faculty and staff at Centre and to many businesses in Danville asking for a pledge for the group's volunteer work. This year the money pledged will be given to Woodlawn Children’s Home in Danville. The Woodlawn Home is a Christian home for children who have lost their parents, or whose families couldn’t provide for them.
Mooney, a varsity basketball player, Student Congress Vice-President and Homecoming Court nominee, is a psychobiology major. He attended Webster County High School and is the son of Aubrey R. Mooney of Frankfort and Pamela Lutes Mooney of Nicholasville.
The college launched the volunteer award program to show appreciation to the many students who provide service to the local community. Each year, around 60 percent of all Centre students become community volunteers. The college encourages voluntary service by planning a community service day each year for all first-year students. Trina McFarland serves as Centre's director of volunteer service.
Kentucky's highest ranked national institution, Centre is listed by U.S. News and World Report among the country’s top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre leads all colleges and universities in the percentage of alumni who give annual financial support.
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Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422