Many Hands, Enormous Impacts

 

St. Ignatius called us “to give and not count the cost.” And who lives that advice better than a Bronco?

This April, Santa Clara University alumni stepped up in the spirit of National Volunteer Month to give back to their local communities. Broncos of all degrees, graduation years, and majors served their regions to the tune of nearly 250 service hours from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. At each project, whether they were packing food or setting up a talent show, our alumni volunteers proved they are people for others.

Phoenix alumni, led by Lynn Mizzi Brysacz ’83, prepared almost 800 meals for those in need at the local St. Vincent de Paul kitchen.

Jane Duong Davaransky ’00 organized the project for the Sacramento area. Inspired by her son’s time volunteering at Eskaton, a nearby senior community, she arranged for her “small but mighty” group to support the center’s talent show. The volunteers, including Kathryn Luna ’15 and Jeff Townsend J.D. ’98, made the seniors' day by ensuring the event ran smoothly.

In San Diego, Dom Rios ’13 and other alumni supported people facing food insecurity by packing and organizing almost one ton of fresh fruits and vegetables at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

Annie Rothrock ’13 and her group of Broncos served lunch at the St. Anthony’s food bank in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. They waited tables, assisted those in need of extra support, and cleaned up afterward. All told, their team fed more than a thousand patrons.

We caught up with these alumni leaders for a Q&A session. Mark your calendars to join up when we get back out in our communities for Month of Service next April, then read on to hear from our volunteers!

What, as a Bronco, drew you to this opportunity?

Lynn Brysacz: Service to others - especially those in need - has been a part of my faith practice since high school. Santa Clara and JVC solidified that!

Jane Duong Davaransky: My son’s class took frequent trips to the local Eskaton community in Rocklin to volunteer and spend time with the seniors. He enjoyed his time so much and said it was well organized. I thought that this would be a great community to collaborate with for an SCU service project.

Kathryn Luna: I recently moved to Sacramento from the Bay Area. As a member of the Alumni Board of Directors, I am interested in meeting more Bronco alumni in the Sacramento area, and it is even better if we are out in the community giving back at the same time.

Dom Rios: The opportunity to serve my community in a new, meaningful, and tangible way.

Annie Rothrock: It is impossible to ignore the issue of homelessness in SF. Rather than ignore the issue and lose our humanity, this service project presented an opportunity to dive in and learn more about one of the best places in the city that is providing support, community, and help. We loved learning more about their work at St. Anthony’s and how we can continue to plug into their volunteer community and help.

How did your time at Santa Clara help you to become a person for and with others?

LB: I volunteered with the Santa Clara Community Action Program (SCCAP) and numerous places. I was also involved in liturgical ministries, was an Orientation leader, and an RA [now known as Community Facilitators (CFs)]. Those experiences as well as the religion courses I took influenced me.

JDD: When I was at the university, Father Locatelli instilled in the Jesuits the value of service to others. I try to live out these qualities daily in my work, personally and professionally.

KL: My life’s work, personally and professionally, has always been centered around community. I was in the nonprofit sector for six years and currently work in corporate social responsibility. I believe my purpose in this world is to be in service of others.

DR: I reflect often on the Arrupe service project I completed in my second year at SCU. Knowing that I wanted to pursue a future career in education, I chose a placement at a small charter school. Working with those students solidified my passion for service—especially service through education. More importantly, the accompanying coursework facilitated by the late Fr. Reites instilled in me the belief that we are all called to a life of service to the communities in which we live.

AR: I was grateful for the emphasis on solidarity and accompaniment at SCU. I learned a lot from Fr. Mark Ravizza about how to accompany those in need and show up even when it challenges us.

What was the best part of your volunteering experience?

LB: I am glad to help Saint Vincent de Paul in their ministries and it was great to meet other SCU-related folks!

JDD: I enjoyed meeting the new Broncos in my area. I have made connections and added new friends to my network. Additionally, it was nice seeing all the talent on display that day. The event showed us that learning a new talent or developing a new skill is never too late.

KL: I enjoyed meeting the Eskaton Village residents and staff, especially those performing in the show. It was incredible to meet the residents as they were arriving and then to watch them perform. One of my favorite and most memorable acts was a resident who played a beautiful piano solo – her fingers were moving so quickly across the keys, yet so gracefully, and she had a smile on her face the entire time.

DR: The opportunity to volunteer with other Broncos! Each one of us had different reasons for being there but we were all motivated by the desire to serve. Working in community with that group was a great way to spend a small portion of our Saturday afternoon.

AR: Meeting the wonderful patrons of St. Anthony’s! So many smiles, life stories shared, and incredible humor despite difficult circumstances people were in.

What is a lesson that you’ll take with you from your time on these projects?

LB: There are lots of ways - big and small - to serve others and many people are interested in serving.

JDD: One of the ideas we were trained on before the event was to expect the unexpected. We were asked to be flexible and be of use where we were most needed at Eskaton. I think this concept served us well because everyone just jumped in and helped out where there were gaps to make the event a success for the seniors.

KL: One lesson I’ll take away with me from this volunteer experience is to always appreciate genuine laughter, joy, and human connection.

DR: That collective efforts—even though seemingly small—create enormous impacts. Our SCU delegation was part of a larger volunteer group that day; however, in less than 2 hours we packed and organized almost 1 ton of fresh produce for distribution.

AR: That so many people facing food insecurity in SF are not necessarily unhoused. Many who came through for lunch were housed or working but still in need of a meal. It’s so important to remember given the economic challenges many face and the significant expense of living in SF.

What would you tell someone who is considering taking part in the next Month of Service?

LB: Do it! You’ll feel good and make friends!

JDD: [The Month of Service] is a great way to meet other Broncos in the community. The service project is a great ice breaker because we come together for a common purpose and to be of service to others.

KL: I would recommend that any Bronco consider taking part in the next Month of Service in their community. I am looking forward to the next one here in Sacramento!

DR: You will not regret participating—sign up and bring friends!

AR: Go for it! I loved linking with other alums and meeting fellow Broncos, it was so easy to show up and incredibly fulfilling. Also, it’s a great way to key into an organization that you may want to stay connected to in your local area.

“I find that the most fulfillment that I achieve in life is from helping others and being able to be of service to others,” said Jeff Townsend J.D. ’98, “I was able to make a few people's lives just a tiny bit better on this particular day, so that is a huge success in my eyes.”

We hope you, too, will join us and other amazing Broncos to find fulfillment in helping others for our next Month of Service! (And during the intervening months too, of course. Giving back to your community is always in style!)

–

Which community project stood out to you? Did an answer from our volunteer leaders resonate with you? Let us know! Share this Q&A with your fellow Broncos on social media and tag us @SCUAlumni.