1966
30 students showed up for the first Waltham Group meeting
1968
Waltham Group became the largest club on campus
197 1
Waltham Group charity auction began
1973
Summer Genesis began
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Original 1966 Waltham Group Charter
A Companions to Elders Volunteer Playing Guitar, 1978
Waltham Group Meeting, 1968
1982
Big Siblings had 150 matches
Prospect Hill enrolled 60 children
1985
Language and Cultural Enrichment (LaCE) founded
1986
“Beyond the Peripheral Road” first published
First Volunteer Orientation and Training Day
1987 Charity Week raised $21,000
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Summer Genesis, 1983
1982 Student Leaders in the Usdan Waltham Group Office
1987 Coordinators With Director Peter Joyce
Brandeis Dance Marathon, 1987
1990
Bristol Lodge changed its name to Hunger and Homelessness
1991
Waltham Group celebrated its 25th anniversary 1995
Volunteer Vacations program founded
First Community Service Day with 800 volunteers 1997
Waltham Reads program founded 1998
Best Buddies program founded
Faculty Talent Show raised $553
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Waltham Group Coordinator Meeting Notes, 1991
1999 Waltham Group Coordinators at Charity Auction
1995 Waltham Group Coordinators With President Jehuda Reinharz
Waltham Group Talent Show, 1990
End of Year Coordinator Party With Director Diane Hannan, 1996
2000-2010 2000
Waltham Group received secured SAF funding by eight votes
2001
Community Service Day morphed into a Community Service Fair
2008
First Waltham Group bone marrow registry
Junior Brandeis Achievers, Brandeis Buddies, WATCH Clinic Translators and Hospital Helpers Programs founded
Volunteers: 800
Coordinators: 39
Programs: 12
2009
Volunteer Waivers implemented
Educational outreach (advocacy programs) became a formal responsibility of Waltham Group Coordinators
2010
First annual Celebration of Service event instituted
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Volunteers With Waltham Group Van
Volunteer Vacations Trip to Gulfport, Miss., After Hurricane Katrina, 2006
2008 Waltham Group Coordinators at Team Day
2004 Waltham Group Coordinators With Director Diane Hannan and Department Coordinator Michelle Ercoline
Current Waltham Group Logo
Created by Mollie Greenberg ’10, Waltham Group AE Coordinator, in Fall 2008
2012
SPECTRUM joined Waltham Group
Waltham Group Brandeis Buddies received Jane Z. Kirsch Community Service Award from the Greater Waltham ARC
2014
Budget & Steering title changed to Waltham Group Co-Presidents
2015
Symbiosis program founded
Waltham Group two-credit practicum approved
2016
Volunteer Vacations changed name to Service Without Borders
Waltham Group’s SPECTRUM was awarded the Kelly Beaumont-Mazzarini Inclusion Award from the Waltham Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
2010 Coordinators Volunteer at Drumlin Farms at Team Day With Director Lucas Malo and Department Coordinator Kelly Whiffen
2015 Coordinators With Adviser Brian Quigley
Waltham Group Kickball Team Bonding
Waltham Group Deis Day Parade Float
Waltham Group Office Selfie
Blood Drive
1986
Waltham Group Blood Drive set the record for number of pints collected in one day in the Boston area; the previous record was 177 — this drive collected 193
1995
Since this date, there have been 12,400 pints — or 37,200 lives saved — from Waltham Group Blood Drives
2008
Bone marrow registries instituted 2012
Waltham Group Blood Drive received Massachusetts College Sponsor of the Year from the American Red Cross
2000 American Red Cross Statistics: 5% of all potential donors give blood; 10% of potential donors would have to donate to meet current demand; 21% of total donations come from college and high school students; 50% of the population will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Blood Drive Flyer Created by Heather Gitler ’17
Blood Drive Donor, 1983
Blood Drive Donation Sign-Up, 2001
Boston Strong Memorial Blood Drive, 2014
Waltham Group Selfie at the Blood Drive
1966-67
School Year: 40 kids tutored at Prospect Hill
1974
Leadership of Prospect Terrace Children’s Center transferred from Waltham Group to Prospect Terrace parents as a results of years of strategic foundation building
1981
Bilingual volunteers were added to the Toddler Playgroup to support growing Hispanic populations in the community
2006
Waltham Kid’s Club took a field trip to Fenway Park and a Boston Duck Tour
2013
Prospect Hill
A new partnership was forged with Bentley University, Waltham Police, Waltham Housing Authority and the City of Waltham to renovate, open and staff the Prospect Hill Community Center
2014
Community Center opened
Kaboom playground constructed with New England Patriots, United Health Care and New England Revolution
Daily children’s after-school program, weekly teen mentoring program and weekly English language classes for adults were implemented; over 100 community members served with the support of more than 100 college volunteers from Brandeis and Bentley
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Toddler Playgroup at Prospect Hill
Adult Participants and Volunteers in the Waltham Group’s Language Empowering Action Project
Prospect Hill Volunteer
Prospect Hill Grand Opening With President Frederick Lawrence and Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy
Prospect Hill Statistics
Charity Auction
1971
First charity auction 2012
After a short break, the auction resurfaced
The auction raises between $2,000-$28,000 each year
Sampling of auction items over the years
- Large cans of pickles (1974)
- Dinner for two at The Chateau (1974)
- 20 pounds of sirloin strip (1974)
- Electric letter opener (1974)
- Huffy bike (1974)
- Singing telegram (1983)
- One semester of free rent from Residence Life (1983)
- Used manual typewriter (1983)
- 100 pounds of clay (1988)
- Larry Bird jersey (1988)
- Gift certificate for four hours of word processing (1994)
- Sony Portable Discman (1994)
- Public speaking lesson (1994)
- Student Events Super Pass (1994)
- Lunch with Mayor McCarthy (2012)
- Lizzy’s Ice Cream gift card (2012)
How much did these auction items go for?
- 10 pages of typing sold for $6.50 (1978)
- Page in The Justice sold for $70 (2000)
- 10 tickets to Commencement sold for $400 (2000)
- Kaplan prep course sold for $525 (2000)
- All-campus parking pass sold for $515 (2000)
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
1981 Auctioneers
1993 Auction Volunteers
27th Annual Auction Flyer
Halloween for the Hungry 1990
Record-breaking high of 7,000 cans collected 2012
The Sock and Clothing Drive was instituted and was similar to Halloween for the Hungry except students collected new socks and clothing 2014
The Sock and Clothing Drive morphed into the Wellness Drive, collecting toiletry items
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Halloween for the Hungry Volunteers
Waltham Group Current Programs
AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT: Waltham middleschool students are paired with Brandeis student volunteers for an after-school enrichment and tutorial program. The program meets on Thursday afternoons from 3-5 p.m. for eight sessions each semester at Brandeis. Transportation is provided to and from the middle schools.
BIG SIBLINGS: This program offers one-to-one mentoring to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Brandeis students are paired with a child at Stanley Elementary School and they visit the child weekly during lunch period. Children are matched with their big siblings through a partnership with Jewish Big Brother Big Sister. Other one-time events are also coordinated by this student group.
BLOOD DRIVE: Red Cross blood drives are held on campus three times a year with assistance from student volunteers. Donors and volunteers are needed for the drives. Each April, a blood drive is partnered with awareness events and a fundraiser.
BRANDEIS BUDDIES: This program reaches out to developmentally disabled adults at Greater Waltham ARC by connecting them with Brandeis student volunteers. Recreation activities both on and off campus provide a fun atmosphere for volunteers and participants alike to build friendships.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: This referral and resource service matches Brandeis students with volunteer opportunities in the Greater Boston area. It also plans the annual Social Impact Job, Volunteer and Internship Fair and one-time events such as volunteering at Cradles to Crayons, Waltham Fields Community Farms and other local nonprofit organizations.
COMPANIONS TO ELDERS: At two local nursing homes, student volunteers are matched as weekly friendly visitors with elder residents. Additionally, in partnership with Jewish Family and Children Services, students volunteer monthly at the Memory Café, an event that provides adults with memory disorders a safe space to converse and enjoy entertainment. Small groups also provide one-time activities and/or entertainment at senior centers and assisted-living facilities.
GENERAL TUTORING: This program provides children (first grade through senior year of high school) with one-to-one tutoring for one hour a week at Brandeis University at a mutually agreed upon time. SAT Prep/ESL tutors are available.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: This campus chapter of the national organization works to educate about affordable housing issues and assists in building homes and raising funds for the work of Habitat. It organizes one alternative break trip each year. Habitat also supports local requests for basic community beautification projects, and members volunteer at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Household Goods.
HOSPITAL HELPERS: This program places Brandeis students at local hospitals to assist with customer service satisfaction, waiting room childcare and other administrative work. In addition, once a month volunteers educate youth through a public health Veggie Buddies program in the Waltham public schools.
HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS: Student volunteers address poverty issues through service and advocacy by assisting at the Community Day Center of Waltham and organizing the Halloween for the Hungry food drive and Spring Wellness drive. Volunteers also collect guest meal donations and prepare meals as part of Food for Thought.
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
Waltham Group Current Programs
JUNIOR BRANDEIS ACHIEVERS: JBA offers weekly after-school club programming for children at local elementary schools for a sixto-eight-week period. Past clubs have included music, journalism, dance, science, creative writing, creative arts and many others. The clubs are implemented with the help of students from Waltham High School.
KIDS CONNECTION: This student volunteer referral and resource service places students in nonprofit children’s agencies such as the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA. Kids Connection also runs a weekly teen mentoring program at the Prospect Hill Community Center. A variety of programs and times are available.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
(LACE): Waltham Middle School students who are English language learners are paired with Brandeis students for an after-school enrichment and tutorial program. The program meets on Thursday afternoons for eight sessions each semester at Brandeis. Transportation is provided to and from the middle schools.
LANGUAGE EMPOWERING ACTION PROJECT
(LEAP): Volunteers work in local nonprofits that may require occasional or ongoing services to non-native English speakers. In partnership with English at Large, the Prospect Hill Community Center and the Waltham Family School, volunteers provide weekly English lessons to local community members and new Latino mothers. Opportunities are not limited to direct translation services, but cover a wide scope of activities aimed at supporting local residents and the missions of the Waltham Group’s community partners.
PROSPECT HILL KIDS CLUB: Volunteers run an after-school program for elementary and middle school children at the Prospect Hill Community Center. The program provides educational and social enrichment every weekday afternoon from 3-5:30 p.m. and is organized in partnership with volunteers from Bentley University. Children who attend are residents of the Prospect Hill Terrace low-income housing neighborhood.
SERVICE WITHOUT BORDERS: Service Without Borders organizes and sends Brandeis students to alternative spring break volunteer programs. Locations and projects vary yearly, but recently have included environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, poverty, natural disaster relief, and health and wellness trips.
SPECTRUM: SPECTRUM is a disability awareness group that works to build relationships and connections between the families of children with disabilities and Brandeis students. Through dance, movement, songs, games and other social and recreational activities, Brandeis students form bonds with the children and their families while reaching out to the whole Brandeis community and the Waltham community. Volunteers also provide tutoring services to children with disabilities.
SYMBIOSIS: Symbiosis seeks to connect Brandeis students with local environmental volunteering opportunities. The club has one-time events, educational community gardens, farm work and recurring events such as volunteering with animal shelters.
TUTORING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (T.I.P.S.):
Student volunteers assist teachers and staff with students and are placed in local schools during school hours in Waltham schools. They also run an early literacy program at the Whitemore Elementary School.
Brandeis University | Waltham Group
50 Years of Waltham Group Programs
Afternoon Enrichment (AE)
Best Buddies
Big Brother/Big Sister
Big Siblings
Blood Drive
Boys Club
Brandeis Buddies
Bristol Lodge
Community Connections
Community Health
Community Placement
Companion Elder Outreach
Companion Program
Companions to Elders
Fundraising and Development
General Tutoring (GT)
Habitat for Humanity
Hispanic Liaison Program
Hospital Helpers
Hunger and Homelessness
Junior Brandeis Achievers (JBA)
Kids Connection
Kids to College
Language and Cultural Enrichment (LaCE)
Language Empowering Action Project (LEAP)
Prospect Hill Kids Club
Prospect Hill Summer Recreation
Prospect Terrace After-School Program
Prospect Terrace Recreation
Public Relations
Red Cross Blood Drive
Service Without Borders
SPECTRUM
Summer Genesis
Summer Youth Employment and Training Program
Symbiosis
Tenant’s Association
The New Program
Toddler Playgroup
Tutoring
Tutoring in Public Schools (T.I.P.S)
Volunteer Vacations
Waltham Kids Club
Waltham Reads
Waltham Translators
WATCH Translators