Summary of the many ways in which Princeton University currently contributes to and engages with the Princeton community. Submitted in a memo to the Princeton mayor and council on Nov. 5, 2016.
Contributions Overview
Voluntary Contributions to Princeton Municipality
For decades, Princeton University has made voluntary contributions to the municipality of Princeton. The most recent agreement, adopted in 2014, covers a seven-year period and provides that the University will make annual, unrestricted cash contributions totaling nearly $22 million. Under the terms of this agreement, in 2016 the University’s voluntary contribution to the municipality was $2.97 million. In the 2014 agreement the University also agreed to make cash contributions of $1.9 million to be used for specific agreed-upon purposes, and to donate land on Franklin Avenue valued at approximately $1 million.
Voluntary Tax Payments for Properties that Could Be Exempt
The University is the largest property taxpayer in the municipality, paying $9.12 million in taxes in 2016 (not including sewer payments). The $9.12 million includes about $5.7 million in voluntary tax payments for properties that are eligible for exemption from property taxes. For decades, the University has followed a practice of leaving many properties that are eligible for exemption, including graduate student housing, campus roads, and some athletic facilities, on the municipal tax rolls, and voluntarily paying taxes on these properties.
Contributions to Important Community Organizations/Initiatives
Apart from its contributions to the municipality, Princeton University remains committed to supporting initiatives that enrich the quality of life in Princeton. Over the years, the University has made contributions to an array of local projects and non-profit organizations, ranging from helping fund the construction and endowment of the Princeton Public Library and making substantial contributions to the Princeton Public Schools, to support for the renovation of such community resources as the Princeton Community Pool and the YMCA/YWCA. In 2016 alone, the University made cash or in- kind contributions to almost two dozen different local organizations or projects.
The University has a long history of support for affordable housing. Most recently, the University created 56 units of affordable housing in the reconstruction of Merwick Stanworth, and 9 units of affordable housing on Leigh Avenue.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services
The University provides significant support for police, fire and emergency services in the community. The University has 68 sworn and non-sworn officers in the Department of Public Safety with more than 34 additional supervisory, dispatch and administrative staff; Public Safety operates 24 hours per day/365 days per year, and works in close collaboration with the municipal police department. Thus far in 2016 the Princeton Police Department needed to respond to campus only ten times. University officers have been called upon 61 times so far this year to provide support for the Princeton Police Department.
The University has supported the Fire Department with annual financial contributions and major capital gifts as well as by allowing its employees to serve as volunteers with the department during their paid work hours. University employees spend more than 1,200 hours a year responding to calls and attending training.
Over many years the University has supported the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS) through annual contributions, and in-kind services such as housing and telecommunications support. Recently the University contributed $500,000 toward the construction of a new headquarters.
The University collaborates regularly with the municipality and Mercer County to support communications systems, including allowing cell equipment to be installed on its buildings, reducing the need for monopoles in town.
Private Roads and Shuttle System Maintained by the University and Used by the Public
The University owns approximately 5 miles of private roads in the municipality of Princeton, such as Faculty Road and College Road, which are ordinarily open to the public. In addition to paying taxes on these roads, the University maintains them at its own cost, including providing snow removal. The University also operates the “Tiger Transit” bus system which is free and open to the public at all times. It provides more than 500,000 passenger rides per year.
Education and Outreach
As an educational institution, Princeton University runs numerous programs that welcome community members or are aimed primarily at residents of the area. Students at local high schools, including Princeton High School, can take coursework at the University; many different University initiatives provide tutoring to public school students; and the University runs a preparatory program for economically disadvantaged students in the area. Almost half of the participants in the Community Auditing Program are Princeton residents, participating in University classes for a modest fee, and thousands more attend hundreds of free public lectures offered each year at the University. The Cotsen Children’s Library is open to the public at no cost, and conducts literacy programs in local elementary schools and venues.
The University Art Museum, Richardson Auditorium and McCarter Theater provide a wide variety of arts programming. In addition, the University Chapel, the Music Department and various concert series offer musical performances year-round.
Athletic events are another opportunity for community members to connect with the University – of the 282 regular season games of Princeton athletic teams last year, 228 were free to members of the public. Campus athletic facilities are regularly used by the community’s youth sports programs, by non-profit recreation programs in the area, and, for certain facilities, by the public.
Volunteer Activity and Civic Engagement
Princeton’s mission of teaching and research has an emphasis on service, and students volunteer with more than a dozen local community organizations. Some of this activity begins before they even take their first class at Princeton, through Community Action. The University has a long history of working with the Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters and numerous other organizations that seek to meet the needs of local residents and create a fully inclusive and supportive community.
Contributions to Town of Princeton in Detail
• Voluntary Payments (calendar year basis)
o Consistent with the 2014 voluntary contribution agreement with the Municipality of Princeton, the University’s contribution escalates by 4% annually over a seven-year term
$2.475 million in 2013 to Princeton
$2.75 million in 2014 to Princeton
$2.86 million in 2015 to Princeton
$2.97 million in 2016 to Princeton
o The seven-year 2014 contribution agreement includes the following pledges to major community initiatives:
$500,000 toward construction of a new Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad facility on municipal land (contribution completed)
$250,000 toward the expansion of the Witherspoon Fire Station (in addition to $300,000 already committed to this project under a prior agreement)
$500,000 toward the purchase of fire-fighting apparatus
$250,000 toward the construction of a new storage facility for municipal Department of Public Works equipment
o Donation of the University-owned Franklin Street Lot for municipal use
$90,000 toward a new FreeB vehicle (contribution completed)
• Taxes Paid (calendar year basis)
o In 2016, Princeton University paid $9.12 million in property taxes to Princeton (not including sewer payments); Princeton University is the largest taxpayer in Princeton
o Of the $9.12 million property tax payment to Princeton, $4.35 million went to the Princeton Public Schools
o Of the $9.12 million property tax payment, $5.68 million was paid on property that could have been taken off the tax rolls
• The town’s Aaa bond rating is partially based on the “stabilizing presence of Princeton University”
o In rating the municipality, Moody’s cites “the stabilizing presence of Princeton University” and notes that “Princeton University (7,912 students) contributes to the municipality’s strong local economy.” Its Aaa rating reduces the town’s borrowing costs below the costs of many other municipalities
• Contributions to important community organizations/initiatives
o Princeton Public Library, construction and endowment
o Princeton Public Schools, including renovation of the high school auditorium/library
o Princeton Education Foundation
o Technology for the new JW Middle School Media Center
o Princeton Charter School
o Arts Council of Princeton building renovation/expansion
o Hinds Plaza
o Princeton Community Pool reconstruction
o Princeton Recreation skate park
o Battle Monument renewal and lighting project
o Construction of new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro
o Founding sponsor of Send Hunger Packing
o Brainfuse program at Princeton Public Library
o Princeton Symphony Orchestra BRAVO concerts
o Sustainable Princeton Energy Smart Homes Campaign
o Sustainable Princeton Sustainable Living Guide
o Stony Brook Millstone Watershed
o Spirit of Princeton
o Corner House Summer Youth Outreach Programming
o Morven Museum and Garden Endowment Campaign
o Garden State on Your Plate program in Princeton Public Schools
o YWCA Princeton
o Princeton Family YMCA
• Community Resources
o Garden Theater
The theater is owned by the University, operated by separate non-profit organization, Renew Theaters, which was selected partially due to their commitment to community engagement
The University upgraded at a cost of approximately $400,000 sound systems and installation of digital projection system
o Labyrinth Books
The University helped to bring in, and maintain, an independent bookstore in Princeton
o Nassau East
The University owns and manages properties around 185 Nassau Street which house a variety of local businesses
o The University provides off-site parking, at no cost to the municipality, on the University-owned Franklin Avenue lot for municipal employees and Community Park Pool staff
Franklin Avenue lot also provided a location for the Princeton Public Library contractors to park during their second floor renovation project
o The Garden Theater, Labyrinth Books, the commercial and residential properties at Nassau East, and the Franklin Avenue lot are all tax-paying properties
o The University provided, at no cost, temporary storage for Princeton Public Library collections during the Library’s second floor renovation project
Through coordination of Princeton Public Library staff and Firestone Library staff, books in storage were still made available to library patrons from storage upon request
o The University provides space for local non-profit organizations’ fundraising events. Recent organizations hosted on campus include Fund 101, Princeton Education Foundation, Princeton Nursery School, Mercer County Community College Jim and Fannie Floyd Scholarship Fund, Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton Public Library, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Adult School, Princeton Unity Walk, Princeton Child Development Institute, American Boychoir School, and Princeton Senior Resource Center
o The University hosts the Corner House summer leadership program on campus
• Affordable Housing
o Constructed 9 units of publicly available affordable housing on Leigh Avenue
o Constructed 56 units of publicly available affordable housing at Merwick Stanworth
o Contracted with Princeton Community Housing for management of affordable units at Merwick Stanworth and on Leigh Avenue
o Made contributions to Princeton Community Housing for Elm Court, Shirley Court and Harriett Bryan House
o Donation of land for Karin Court; location of 16 units of affordable housing available to the public through the Princeton Housing Authority
o Provided funding to help create Griggs Farm affordable housing
• Police
o Both Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Princeton Police Department (PPD) command staff meet monthly. These meetings are used to review issues and plan for upcoming town and/or University events. In addition, the DPS Executive Director and Director of Operations meet monthly with the PPD Chief.
o Call volume for PPD response to campus-related incidents has been minimal due to DPS/PPD operating agreement signed in 2013
Request for police assistance for specific crimes/serious incidents:
2013 - 7 calls
2014 - 1 domestic violence call that PPD responded to and assisted DPS
2015 - 4 calls: 1 unattended death on campus, 1 bomb threat on campus, 2 sexual contact incidents co-investigated with PPD
2016 (to date) –10 calls: 2 disorderly conduct incidents, 2 domestic violence incidents, 1 duress alarm, 1 report of harassment, 2 robberies, 1 sexual assault, 1 theft
o Police co-operation reports are filed when there is an interaction of any kind between municipality and public safety that is not investigated by DPS or does not result from a call into DPS jurisdiction. This includes requests by the municipality for DPS to assist in a case or investigation (i.e. assistance in locating a missing individual, traffic control, traffic accidents, serving subpoenas, use of Spanish-speaking DPS officer for interview purposes, transportation from PPD to campus for students). The number of calls from PPD requesting DPS assistance:
2013 - 135 calls
2014 - 64 calls
2015 - 87 calls
2016 (to date) - 61 calls
o PPD is invited to participate at no charge in all in-service training held on campus and sponsored by the Department of Public Safety(DPS)
January 2016 diversity training presented by Charmaine Wijeyesinghe and Tom Schiff. 36 PPD officers attended
In July and August 2016 DPS and PPD conducted active shooter drills at various campus buildings
In September 2016, PPD and DPS conducted active shooter simunitions training for both DPS and PPD officers using an unoccupied single-story building located on Route One
o In October 2016 DPS collaborated with PPD and the Greater Mercer TMA to raise awareness of pedestrian safety during the Street Smart campaign
o Upon request, DPS provides assistance to PPD for staffing of large community events (i.e. Princeton Half Marathon)
• Emergency Services
o University staff participate on Princeton’s Local Emergency Preparedness Committee (LEPC)
o Princeton Fire Department (PFD)
$250,000 pledged toward the expansion of the Witherspoon Fire Station (in addition to $300,000 already committed to this project under a prior agreement)
$500,000 pledged toward the purchase of fire-fighting apparatus
PFD Associate Member Program: University staff serve as PFD volunteers during weekday work hours for which they are paid by the University
Program currently has 29 university employees participating
For fiscal year July 2015 to June 2016, associate members responded to 189 calls totaling 762 hours
For fiscal year July 2015 to June 2016, associate members participated in 433 hours of training during regular work hours
For fiscal year July 2015 to June 2016, program coordinators spent 164 hours administering the program
o DPS leadership has regular meetings with PFD leadership to discuss collaboration, operations, response and emergency management
The University provided fire hydrant and fire department connection (FDC) latitude/longitude information for use in the PFD response mapping program
Engine 66 from the Princeton University’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory responds regularly to the municipality for fire calls as mutual aid to the PFD
In April 2016 Associate Firefighter program members assisted with fire department coverage of the municipality during Communiversity
oTraining
In January 2016 the University hosted a continuing education program for firefighters and fire inspectors, featuring updates to the NJ Uniform Building Code; attended by 125 fire inspectors from the Princeton area
In April 2016, a large scale water supply exercise with nearly 80 New Jersey fire departments (including PFD) was held on the Forrestal campus. The exercise included tanker/large diameter hose task forces which pumped nearly 4,000 gallons of water per minute for more than a mile
In August 2016 the University Data Center (HPCRC) at the Forrestal Campus was the site of a pre-planning drill for PFD
In October 2016 a parking lot at Forrestal Center was provided for new fire truck familiarization
In October 2016 the University’s Portable Fire Extinguisher trainer unit was used at the PFD Open House
o Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS)
The University contributed $500,000 toward construction of a new PFARS headquarters facility on municipal land
The University contributes $35,000 annually to PFARS to support squad operations
DPS leadership has regular meetings with PFARS leadership to discuss collaboration, operations, response and emergency management
The University provides a parking space with accessible power on campus for a PFARS ambulance
Of the 90 volunteer members of PFARS, 24 are University students (3 are senior members, 8 are at “provider” rank, and 13 are in training)
Student members are regularly recognized by PFARS as active/”top” responder volunteers
The University provides free campus housing for up to 6 students each summer so they can actively volunteer with PFARS during the summer months
Communications:
The University provided $25,000 of radio equipment that is installed in all PFARS apparatus, as well as portable radios for use on the University encrypted radio system. This radio equipment was upgraded by the University to allow PFARS operation on the new countywide radio system, providing this key communications capability without the need to purchase additional apparatus or portable radios
The University is assisting PFARS with technical advice and guidance associated with a major update of their internal communication system. This will include providing a dedicated data link at Fine Hall and support to the PPD Communications Center for dispatch of PFARS resources
Training:
In April 2016 Frick Chemistry was provided as a location for a confined space rescue drill
In July 2016 Carnegie Lake was the site of a rescue boat familiarization training
In July and August 2016 the West Garage was the site of a rope rescue course for training
In September 2016 a parking lot at Forrestal Center was provided for an emergency vehicle operations course
• Communications Systems
o Mercer County’s countywide public safety communications systems continue to be supported at Fine Hall
A full multi-channel radio receiver site for Mercer County’s countywide public safety communications system is installed under a multi-year agreement to provide mobile and portable public safety radios with the ability to be heard clearly on this system when operating throughout the Princeton area. The University provides secured space and power at no charge
Receivers that enable Mercer County Central Dispatch to monitor all on-scene ground communications channels during fire incidents in the Princeton area continue to be supported. The University provides secure space and power at no charge
A microwave link site to connect not only this site but also two additional sites into the new communications network continues to be supported; this includes electronics infrastructure installed in a secured room, as well as rooftop antennae. The University provides secure space and power at no charge
o Equipment and antenna support for PPD, PFARS and PFD located at Fine Hall
Under a multi-year agreement with the Municipality of Princeton, a radio repeater is installed in a secure room and connected to an antenna located on Fine Tower to alert PFARS pagers of a call. This same repeater is used for operations associated with PFARS calls. The University provides secure space and power at no charge.
Mercer County Central Dispatch uses this same repeater to alert PFARS pagers of a call requiring heavy recue resources
Under a multi-year agreement, PFARS has a dedicated repeater and antenna at Fine Hall that is used as their tactical/special-operations channel
o PPD has been provided with three encrypted talkgroups on the University radio system for use in tactical/special-operations throughout Princeton (on and off-campus). Additionally, PPD has access to the encrypted DPS radio communications system for interoperability with all their calls and portable radios
o Dedicated radio link equipment and antenna are installed at the Princeton EOC for use during an emergency, as well as for daily use by PPD for interoperability with DPS
o The University maintains a second base radio for fire department response and operations on the Mercer County Public Safety Communications System at 306 Alexander Street where a PFD vehicle is housed for response by PFD Associate Program members
o A dedicated talkgroup is maintained on the University radio system to support the PFD Associate Member Program
Members who are responding to dispatches advise the team leader that they are enroute to 306 Alexander Street. Due to poor coverage of the County dispatch channel in this area, this talkgroup also serves as a secondary means of alerting program members of a call requiring their response
o The University provides programming services for the pagers used by the PFD Associate Program members
o The University installed a fiber-optics based distributed antenna system throughout the new Andlinger Center to support radio communications for the PFD. This includes the capability for simultaneous communication on both an operations channel as well as a firefighter-in-distress channel. An extension of this system has also been installed at 20 Washington Road
o The University purchased and installed two radio repeaters and associated antennae in support of the above in-building distributed antenna system (which will be expanded in two additional buildings in the near future). These repeaters receive the signals via fiber options from inside the building and retransmit them to insure that the incident commander outside can hear all radio transmissions originating from inside
• Cell Towers
o There are 8 wireless carrier cell towers on University buildings
This reduces visual impact of/need for monopoles in town and improves service to the community
• Maintenance of approximately 5 miles of roads in Princeton used by the public
o Annual cost to the university is approximately $500,000
• Collaboration on local and regional planning issues
o Contributed land to make possible the construction of additional left hand turn lane at Harrison Street/Route One
o Provided half of the funding for the Alexander Street/University Place Traffic and Transportation Task Force
o Contributed $500,000 to the community’s Transportation Trust Fund
Projects funded to-date include Princeton Community Bike Map, Enhanced Bus Shelters, Transit Opportunities Study, “Go Princeton” integrated mode choice communications plan
o In 2016 Princeton University provided nearly $60,000 to fund the Nassau Street Streetscape project
• Transportation
o Tiger Transit is “free and open to the public” and provides more than 500,000 passenger rides each year
o Established and continue to maintain a stop at Palmer Square on the Tiger Transit Forrestal/PPPL line to provide community access to the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro after NJ Transit 655 service was discontinued in September 2015
Between January 2016 and September 2016 more than 1,700 passengers used the Tiger Transit Forrestal-PPPL line stop at Palmer Square for access to/from Princeton Station or Princeton Hospital
o University Director of Transportation and Parking serves on the municipal public transportation committee
o The Princeton Bike Share program managed by Zagster has grown exponentially as a first-and-last mile transportation option
As of October 2016 there were 922 active program members and an average of 425 weekly rides since March 2016 (14,000 total rides) at 9 stations
The program will expand to 13 stations and 105 bikes across campus by the end of November 2016
A bike station with 5 bikes was recently installed by shopping center management company at the Princeton Shopping Center
The program will expand further when the municipality launches its stations
Municipality of Princeton received $196,000 grant due to seed funding by Princeton University that launched the bike share program managed by Zagster
o University staff participate in the Princeton Bike Master Plan project
o New FreeB vehicle funded by Princeton University was received and put into service in the summer of 2016
• Surplus Equipment Program
o Access provided for area non-profit organizations to the University surplus equipment program. Items given free of charge to area non-profits for their organizational use
• Education Outreach
o Princeton High School (PHS) students who have exhausted the coursework in the high school can take classes at the University; coordinated by PHS guidance department
o Tutoring for Princeton Public Schools students through Community House Programs; including the Graduate Molecular Biology Outreach Program “Science on Thursdays”
o Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP), a college prep program for economically disadvantaged students, is open to Princeton High School students
o Princeton Center for Complex Materials (PCCM) holds special events open to the community including a Holiday Science Lecture, Material Science Nano Days and State of Material Science Lecture
o Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) hosts Science on Saturday lectures in the winter months, the New Jersey Regional Science Bowl and the Young Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program for middle and high school students
o Princeton Open Labs Science Café - Graduate students give “Ted-like” talks to high school students about their scientific research
o Cotsen Children’s Library presents “Cotsen in the Classroom” programs in local elementary schools and literary programs for children ages 3 to 17 on campus and in local venues
o Many lectures and other intellectual and cultural offerings on campus are open to the public and almost always free of charge
o Access to Firestone Library is available for a fee
o Firestone exhibits and Cotsen Children’s Library are available for free
o Through the Community Based Learning Initiative (CBLI) faculty and students provide in-depth research and studies for community organizations as part of a Princeton course. In the past year CBLI courses included work with the Human Services Commission, Princeton Future, the Princeton Nursery School, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Princeton Young Achievers. The program also provides summer research interns to local organizations, including Arm in Arm (formerly the Crisis Ministry)
• Community Auditing Program
o 44% of the roughly 650 program participants each semester are from Princeton
o The program includes special courses and lectures designed especially for auditors
• Entrepreneurship
o Princeton University opened the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub at 34 Chambers Street in 2015
The space provides a location for the exchange of ideas; a place where creative and talented entrepreneurs from the University and the community can come together to learn from one another, establish connections, and make contributions to the local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem
o Transportation-focused hackathon in February 2016 was sponsored by University Center for Information Technology Policy and Code for Princeton; it utilized local data sources with participants ranging from current Princeton students and faculty to local middle school students
o The OneRoof Tiger Challenge student team is working with municipal affordable housing staff and local organizations to identify opportunities to make the affordable housing application process in Princeton more streamlined and user-friendly
o A new Tiger Challenge team will begin work soon with the Princeton Public Schools on measures to mitigate harmful academic stress and improve the mental health of K-12 students
• Cultural Offerings on Campus
o Princeton University Art Museum
Free and open to the public
Provides a wide variety of free educational and family programming, including Art for Families workshop programs and a summer outdoor movie series
o Theaters
McCarter and Berlind theaters are owned and financially supported by the University
Theater Intime provides academic year programming open to area residents in Hamilton Murray Theater
Princeton Summer Theater series in Hamilton Murray Theater open to area residents
Additional theater, dance and visual arts programming available at other locations on campus, including 185 Nassau Street
o Musical Performance
Performances at Richardson Auditorium and Taplin Auditorium
Summer Carillon Concerts at the Graduate College
o Chapel
Weekly “After Noon” organ concerts
Special performances sponsored by the Chapel Music program
Veterans Day Observance Program
o Princeton University Concerts
Hosts annual music series featuring classical music performed by professional musicians in Richardson
• Community Events on Campus
o Communiversity (on campus and in town)
o Community and Staff Day (fall football game); free tickets offered to local residents; approximately 13,500 attended in 2016
o Princeton Campus Farmers’ Market in spring (five weeks, prior to opening of market on Hinds Plaza)
o Princeton Adult School holds spring lecture series, fall lecture series, and “Last Chance” film series on campus
o University hosts the annual Community Works Program attended by 500
o Community invited free of charge to Reunions fireworks
o Princeton Public Schools’ John Witherspoon Middle School graduation hosted in Richardson Auditorium
o Two Municipality of Princeton election polling districts hosted on campus
o Princeton Symphony Orchestra BRAVO concert in Richardson Auditorium
o Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Einstein Lecture
• Worship
o Community members participate in Chapel services on a regular basis and special occasions
o Community members also participate in services by religious groups associated with the University through chaplaincy programs and the Center for Jewish Life
o Special religious services take place in Richardson Auditorium
• Athletics
o Tickets to athletic events on campus are free or low-cost
In the past year there were 282 regular season games, of which 228 were free and required no tickets
o In cooperation with Princeton Recreation Department, the University hosts the Dillon Basketball League Saturday morning youth basketball program has been held on campus with participation by Princeton students as coaches for 46 years with nearly 300 youth participants from the community each year
Clinics for Dillon League participants hosted by Princeton University Men’s and Women’s Varsity Basketball Teams
o Carnegie Lake open to the public for recreational ice skating in collaboration with Princeton Recreation Department
o Dillon Gym access provided to YMCA fitness members at no charge during the annual YMCA facility shutdown week (August 27-September 5, 2016)
o Provide scholarships to Princeton youth to attend Princeton University Summer Sports Camps in collaboration with Corner House; 8 participants in summer 2016
o Campus athletic facilities used by Princeton High School hockey (boys and girls) and track, Princeton Youth Hockey Association, Carnegie Lake Rowing Association, Princeton masters swimming, Princeton Recreation Department squash and youth wrestling programs, and Princeton Junior Squash
o Princeton student-athletes undertake numerous volunteer efforts through the Princeton Varsity Club and as teams:
Participation in Communiversity, Community and Staff Day youth sports clinic, National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Princeton School Gardens Project (Riverside, Community Park, and John Witherspoon), Harriett Bryan House
Reading with the Tigers Program with all four Princeton elementary schools (Community Park, Littlebrook, Johnson Park and Riverside)
Additional volunteer efforts with Princeton-based organizations including: Princeton YMCA, Princeton Public Schools (elementary, middle, and high schools), Princeton Youth Hockey and U-NOW Nursery School
• Volunteer Support
o Students, faculty and staff volunteer their time and talents with many non-profit organizations focused on the Princeton community including:
Corner House, Dillon Youth Basketball League, Princeton Fire Department, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad, Princeton Healthcare System, Princeton Regional Schools (elementary, middle school, high school), Princeton Nursery School, Princeton Senior Resource Center, Princeton Young Achievers, Princeton YMCA, SAVE Animal Shelter, YWCA Princeton
o The Community Service Interclub Council (CSICC), a collaborative initiative of the eating clubs, coordinates volunteer activities undertaken by the clubs with numerous local organizations; in 2016 the eating clubs worked in partnership to present “TruckFest” and “Trick or Feed,” events that raised funds to support TASK, Send Hunger Packing, and Meals on Wheels
o The Pace Center for Civic Engagement undertakes a wide variety of programming in the local community including:
- First-year students’ small group orientation (through Community Action) to service and learning with the local community. Below is a list of the 2016 Community Action service and learning groups that took place in the Princeton community:
-Education Princeton: Uplifting Youth partnered with Community House, Princeton Nursery School, PUMC Cornerstone Community Kitchen
-Community Development Princeton: Neighborhood Revealed partnered with Planet Princeton
-Community Development Princeton: Empowerment partnered with YWCA Princeton Sustainability Princeton: Eco-Farming partnered with Farminary, Sierra Club, Farmers Against Hunger (part of program took place beyond Princeton in Lawrenceville, East Windsor, and West Windsor)
-Arts Princeton: Creative Change partnered with Lewis Center for the Arts, McCarter Theatre, Send Hunger Packing
-Human Services Princeton: Community Health partnered with Princeton Senior Resource Center, Municipality of Princeton, HiTopsTutoring, mentoring, academic enrichment, social-emotional support for school-aged youth including:
-Community House After School Academy (middle school); Community House After School Enrichment, Gen1 and SAT Prep (high school)
-One-on-one at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church (elementary and middle school)
-Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Mercer County (elementary and middle school)
-Big Sibs and Nursery School Project, literacy and social-emotional support (nursery and elementary school)
-Effective dialogue and conflict resolution through Community House small group sessions (middle and high school)
-Health education through HIPS (Health Education in Princeton Schools) (elementary school)
-PEEK (Princeton Engineering Education for Kids) (elementary)
-Community House STEAM summer camp (middle and high school)
-Princeton Young Achievers (elementary school)
-Community House Princeton family dinner series to support social- emotional wellness and academic success (youth and their families)
-Community House college tours for high school aged youth
o Creative Minds volunteers contribute to the cognitive rehabilitation of the residents of Merwick Care and Rehabilitation Center using different media to interact.
o Volunteers at CONTACT of Mercer County answer calls for this local crisis hotline and the national suicide hotline
o Tiger Tails sends volunteers to SAVE the local animal shelter.
o Special Olympics has two separate projects: one for swimmers and one for skaters. Both projects utilize University facilities. DeNunzio Pool and Baker Rink. Many if not all athletes and their families come from the Princeton community.
o HIPS: Health Education In Princeton Schools sends volunteers into Littlebrook Elementary school to run interactive Health information sessions.
o Princeton Student Fire Fighters recruits and connects volunteers to train and be part of the Princeton Volunteer Fire Department
o Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Mercer County recruits and sends volunteers to BB&BS of Mercer County where they are screened and matched with a “little” from the Princeton community
o CityStep volunteers work to expose elementary and middle school students in Princeton and Trenton to the performing arts to provide a creative outlet during the school day, build self-confidence, and foster mutual understanding and collaboration
o Meals On Wheels sends volunteers out to deliver meals to non-ambulatory and senior citizens in the Princeton Community. They also started a pilot companion program where some volunteers go out just to check in on seniors regarding health and well-being issues
o Academic Success Today matches volunteers with students from the Princeton District for academic tutoring and mentorship through Corner House
o University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro recruits and refers volunteers for the Medical Center
o An American Red Cross Blood Drive takes place each semester on campus. There is also at least on platelet drive on campus annually
