Fun and games at Hand-in-Hand

“Our mission is to spread awareness, create unity, and increase interactions between the St. Joe’s community and those with special needs,” explains Kate Hahn, a senior at Saint Joseph’s University and co-director of the school’s annual Hand-in-Hand event, the largest activity at the school and a model of student involvement that many other colleges and universities are now emulating.

“It’s a day of games, prizes, food, and we try to create meaningful and positive experiences for our guests and volunteers,” she adds.

On April 9 over 300 Saint Joseph’s University students helped transform the Michael J. Hagan ’85 Arena, on the campus, into Las Vegas, Nevada for the Hand-in-Hand event. Decorative posters lining the gymnasium displayed signs pointing towards the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Avenue, and craps and poker tables created a casino-style atmosphere, ably encapsulating this year’s Hand-in-Hand theme of, Step Right Up and Try Your Luck at Hand-in-Hand.

The Hand-in-Hand festival unites students, administrators and faculty from Saint Joseph’s with special needs guests from surrounding facilities, such as Inglis House, a local provider of nursing home services. The event, which began 35 years ago at St. Joe’s, involves a collaborative effort from the university’s students, as well as local high school volunteers. Additional partners include corporate and non-profit sponsors who have helped make Hand-in-Hand one of the longest and most enduring student service activities in the country. Approximately 2,000 volunteers and participants are somehow touched by Hand-in-Hand every year.

The Saint Joseph’s mascot, The Hawk, made a special appearance along with a magician who performed disappearing napkin tricks for those in attendance. St. Joe’s student bands also provided entertaining performances throughout the day.

Hahn’s co-director and partner, Desiree Ortiz, ’11, also a senior at Saint Joseph’s, explained that student organizing efforts began back in August of 2010.

Ortiz and Hahn, along with advisor Mary Beth Mallowe, from the office of student leadership at St. Joe’s, oversee seven committees which divide up responsibilities for making the event happen every year. Committees are charged with individual tasks, such as decoration, entertainment, and fundraising and donations. One group, the Healthcare and Guests Committee, is responsible for sending invitations to local facilities, as well as independent special needs guests and their caregivers, who might enjoy attending the event. The committee also provides guests with nametags and a list of personal medications should they become necessary over the course of the day-long activities.

The Need for Community Interaction

Ortiz said the need for community interaction has fueled her desire to contribute to the success of Hand-in-Hand.

“To me it’s all about the relationships. We have all the games set up and we give out prizes, but to me it’s a chance to increase the interaction between those with special needs and the St. Joe’s community, and just raise awareness and make people feel more comfortable developing these very special friendships,” she said. “For our guests, this day is so important to them. It’s a one year thing, and when they leave they ask for the date for next year. That’s what’s most important, just having fun in that gym and spending time together and making that day really meaningful for them.”

Both Hahn and Ortiz have been involved with the event since their freshman year.

According to Ortiz, volunteer-based fundraising activities such as bake sales, donations and raffles have pushed the event above and beyond the necessary operating budget of $15,000, surpassing efforts from previous years.

“We have an operating account from St. Joe’s. This year we were given $9,000 and then we’re responsible for the other fundraising,” said Ortiz. “So this year we have raised between $7,000 and $8,000.”

Volunteers represented more than 15 St. Joe’s student groups; each one collaborated on funding-raising, games and decorations and student participation for the festival. Local sponsors also contributed to the event’s success by proving donations of food and supplies. Organizations that contributed to the event in this way included Wawa Food Markets, HERR’S snacks, Pepsi, ARAMARK, Hatfield Quality Meats, Costco Wholesale, Mr. Softee, and GIANT Food Stores.

You Get to See Them in a Different Way

One guest, Victoria Goodspeed from Horsham, Pennsylvania, stepped away from the Mr. Softee queue long enough to express her enthusiasm for the event.

“It was super, super awesome. I love playing games, and eating lunch with all of my friends,” she said. Goodspeed intends to return to Saint Joseph’s for the 2012 Hand-in-Hand festival.

Goodspeed’s friend for the day, Kourtney Gaiates, a 9th grade volunteer from John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, in Center City, said that she was having just as much fun.

“You get to help other people and you get to see them in a different way,” she said.

For many students and neighbors within the greater university community, Hand-in-Hand has become a defining aspect of the St. Joe’s tradition – and one that has produced numerous awards over the years, including a Presidential Citation from the White House and the school’s own Best Student Organization for the last two years.

“Ever since I came to school here, it has grown to be a huge part of who I am and it has helped me develop as a leader,” said Hahn. “I love being a part of the school community and helping and volunteering. It’s really close to my heart, and it’s something from my experience at St. Joe’s that I’ll always take with me.”

For information about Hand-in-Hand, please call 610-660-1066 or email handinhand@sju.edu.