Dear Penn Community,

Thank you for your continued generosity. It is especially notable during the holiday season, but evident at all times. There are no words to adequately describe your generosity. Many continue to benefit from your willingness to give. Thank you for participating in the following holiday events:

Toy Donation Drive

Thanks to the President’s Office for sponsoring the toy donation drive held during the holiday party. These toys, along with many others, were donated to local agencies and families in the surrounding community.

Departmental Family Adoptions

Thank you to the following departments; they brought joy to families during the holidays by “adopting” them:

• African American Resource Center, coordinated by Valerie Allen
• Career Services, coordinated by Jamie Grant
• Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Innovation, coordinated by Jessica E. Morris
• Connor Family, coordinated by Chris Connor
• Consortium for Policy Research in Education, coordinated by Katarina Suwak
• DAR Marketing and Communications, coordinated by Taylor Mengee
• Department of Psychiatry, coordinated by Megan Himes
• Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics, Women of DRIA Group, coordinated by Emily Christiansen
• Penn’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change Executive Committee, coordinated by Colleen Winn
• Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services, coordinated by Cheryl Smith, Chloe Cerwinka, and Alice Cheng
• Fels Institute of Government, coordinated by Ambika Singh
• Office of General Counsel, coordinated by Krystyna Dereszowska and Denene Wambach
• Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, coordinated by Wally Ramos
• Mark Sellmyer Family, coordinated by Mark Sellmyer
• Netter Center for Community Partnerships, coordinated by Ciara Robinson
• Office of Animal Welfare, coordinated by Jennifer Davis
• Office of the Comptroller, coordinated by Celestine Silverman
• Office of Gift Planning, coordinated by Lorleen Finor-Maxwell and Christina Reichert
• Office of Institutional Research, coordinated by Wally Ramos
• Division of Recreatoin & Intercollegiate Athletics Champions Club, coordinated by Abby Bergman
• University Communications, coordinated by Lauren Summers
• Penn Fund, coordinated by Joshua Nay
• Division of Human Resources Employee Solution Center, coordinated by Amma Napier
• Perelman School of Medicine, coordinated by Rachel McGarrigle
• Perelman School of Medicine, coordinated by Francia Portacio
• Research Services, coordinated by Tina Nemetz and Evelyn Ford
• Residential and Hospitality Services, coordinated by Linda Kromer
• School of Arts & Sciences Office of Advancement, coordinated by Rhonda Moyer
• Training and Development HR, coordinated by Holly Marrone
• Veterinary School Library, coordinated by Margy Lindem
• Wharton MBA Career Management, coordinated by Rebecca Alig
• Wharton Executive Education, coordinated by Grace Tak
• Wharton Fund, coordinated by Beth Truta Morris
• Wharton Global Youth Program, coordinated by Kara Dunn
• Wharton Communication Program, coordinated by Sara Mangat
• Wharton School Undergraduate Division, coordinated by Sara M. Hoover and Bernadette Butler

Special thanks to Carisma Therapeutics, coordinated by Kara Collins, who generously participated in the program.

Special thanks to Interius BioTherapeutics, Inc., coordinated by Kari Smitherman and the operations team, for their generosity and participation in the holiday program.

Special thanks to Amazon AMZL Station, coordinated by Gerald Price.

Several departments adopted multiple families.

Drop Site Committee Volunteers

A special thank you to the following drop site committee volunteers, without whose dedication holiday donations would not be possible:

The efforts of this special group collected all the toys/gifts. They made it possible for us to respond to request for donations from our neighbors listed below:

• People’s Emergency Center
• Parents Against Drugs
• Baring House Crisis Nursery
• Salvation Army
• Mill Creek Coalition
• Potter’s House Mission
• Recovery Kings Sanctuary
• Penn VIPS WorkPlace Mentoring Program
• and local families

Thank you to Franklin Building Group, Human Resources, Penn Engineering, and more for the generous sneaker donations and gift cards to benefit the unhoused.

Special thanks to Mary Kinney for the beautiful hand-made scarves, sweaters, hats, and gloves for deserving community members.

Thank you to the entire Penn community for donating over 550 gifts and toys.

University Food Drive

Penn’s’s Annual Food Drive was successful, made possible with the support of several groups from across campus.

Thanks to the Wharton Undergraduate Community Values task force for their help with the food drive.

Thank you to all the special people, both named and unnamed, for their remarkable generosity.

The following benefitted from Penn’s Annual Food Drive:

• Mastery Charter Harrity School Campus Food Drive
• Potter’s House Mission
• West Philadelphia High School
• People’s Emergency Center
• Provisions for the Poor Pantry
• MLK Association for Nonviolence Food Pantry
• Baring House Crisis Nursery
• and families needing emergency food supplies

Please forgive any oversights, and send corrections to Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@upenn.edu

Upcoming March Events

March 11–April 1 Change Drive

The Change Drive is a non-tuition scholarship that benefits a graduating high school student who has been accepted at an accredited college or university.

For over 20 years, the Change Drive has made a difference in \students’ lives; the program name was changed to the Marie K. Bogle Scholarship in 2017. Students have used the funds to buy books and the many other items needed to make a home away from home.

Please feel free to contact the most convenient drop site location from the list above to make your donation.

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at sammapp@upenn.edu for additional info.

Share Your Expertise with West Philadelphia student Athletes

Want to share something with West Philadelphia student-athletes in grades 4-8? Young Quakers want to hear from you.

A variety of topics are welcome, including sports medicine, sports-related careers, athlete mental health and self-care. Contact Young Quakers Community Athletics director Sara Kelly at sdkelly@sas.upenn.edu, or contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@upenn.edu for additional information and/or to volunteer for this program.

Join Penn VIPS Drop Site Committee

Penn volunteers provide a drop-off location to collect the many donated items we receive during our annual drives.

A variety of drives are conducted during the course of the year to partner with and help support local schools, families, and agencies. Drop site volunteers are located throughout campus. Volunteers post the events, set up collection sites and help select the recipients for the donations. They also participate in an annual thank-you luncheon.

The following drives are held:

• School Supplies Drive (August)
• Food Drive (November)
• Gift/Toy Drive (December)
• Change Drive (March)

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@upenn.edu for additional info.

Reorganizing?

Do you have furniture that is no longer needed by your department?  Local nonprofits need your items.

Do you have any furniture to donate? Do you have any unused electronics or left-over bags, tee-shirts, and tchotchkes?  Do you need to empty out your storage space?

Please donate them to Penn VIPS. We will put them to great use by donating them to community members and many of the students we work with, and we will also use them to say thank you to our many volunteers.

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@upenn.edu to donate your items.

University Assisted Community Schools (UACS) Nights

Teach adult learners about your area of expertise. Teach resume writing, interviewing skills, computers, employment prep, dance, cooking, and or a subject you are passionate about. 

Teach once a week for a one- or two-hour sessions for four to six weeks or more.

We also welcome classes that can be taught in one session.

Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m.–8 p.m. at West Philadelphia High School.

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@upenn.edu for additional info.

Create Your Own Volunteer Activity for Your Department!

Would you and your colleagues or friends like to participate in a volunteer activity?  Penn VIPS is happy to connect you to an activity or help you develop one of your own.

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or sammapp@upenn.edu for additional information and/or to make a donation.