The Community Alumni Network at Drexel University (CAN DU), an outreach program of the Drexel University Alumni Association, supports alumni, students, faculty, and staff in making a difference in our community.
This group embraces civic engagement, social responsibility, giving back, volunteerism, and leadership development. The team consists of talented alumni with the motivation to provide time and resources which enable campus partnerships and outreach with Drexel alumni in the Greater Philadelphia region, nation, and globe.
Look for more CAN DU projects coming soon!
Click here to visit the Alumni
Events Calendar for a complete schedule of alumni events in and around your area.
The Community Alumni Network at Drexel University revitalized a playground at Drexel's Vidas Athletic Complex, which is utilized by the surrounding West Philadelphia and Powelton Village neighborhood on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
During this community service experience, 108 Drexel alumni, student, faculty, staff and friends volunteered to refresh the community playground area at the Vidas Complex, which included repainting the existing basketball court, backboards and nets; painting colorful playground games; clearing overgrowth and debris; painting fence posts; planting new shrubbery; laying mulch; and assembling and installing two park benches and two trash receptacles.
Photos from the day can be viewed in a photo album here.
The Community Alumni Network at Drexel University (CAN DU) hosted a fall clean-up project at Morris Park in West Philadelphia on Sunday, November 6, 2011. In partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, 163 CAN DU volunteers, comprised of Drexel alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends, worked to create of a trail through the park, plant trees and wildflowers, and clean and clear the area. Click here to view photos from the day!
Our CAN DU volunteers supported six projects over a 300 x 500 foot work site. Nearly 325 native trees, shrubs and grasses were planted along with 300 tulips and daffodils. Their efforts made it possible for two unique native "Welcome Garden Beds" to be installed at the entrances of Lotus Road and Morris Park Road, and a Dogwood Tree Grove to be installed along Malvern Street near 68th Street. Working with the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, local Master Park Stewards (Morris Park Restoration Association), as well as local block captains and neighbors, volunteers completed reforestation planting in the park's upper and lower trail areas and established 300 feet of new trail, moving an estimated 3.5 tons of woodchip materials. As well, volunteers removed more than 80 bags of trash and an estimated 500 pounds of invasive debris and plants.
Thank you to our Drexel University partners!
Including Athletics, College of Medicine, Facilities Management, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Goodwin College Alumni Association, Government & Community Relations, Institutional Advancement, LeBow College of Business, Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, Printing & Mailing, Provost’s Office, School of Public Health, Student Life, University Communications.
We would like to thank all the volunteers who came out and supported our recent programs.
On Saturday, April 9, 2011, the Community Alumni Network at Drexel University (CAN DU) hosted an elementary school revitalization project at Samuel Powel Elementary School, which is located in the heart of Drexel's West Philadelphia neighborhood.
Drexel alumni joined students, faculty, professional staff, family and friends, as well as teachers and parents from Powel to transform the spaces within the school. CAN DU also held a supply drive for school supplies and recreation equipment, and supported the school's "Health Snacks Program" with donations.
Click here to view photos from the day!
We would like to thank the Drexel University Alumni Association, along with our other sponsors: Communications Services & Support, Flooring Central, LCW CITY, Inc., ProBuild, Traditional Floor Co.; as well as our Drexel University Partners: Athletics, Center for Civic Engagement, College of Engineering, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel Smart House, Facilities Management, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Goodwin College, Government and Community Relations, The iSchool Alumni Association, LeBow College of Business, Office of Campus Activities, Printing and Mailing, School of Education, School of Public Health, Student Life; and the Powel School Home and School Association.
In 2010, Drexel alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends participated in three projects across the country, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! CAN DU volunteers worked to beautify and restore area parks in Philadelphia, South Jersey and Sacramento, CA on April 17 and 24, 2010. The projects were sponsored by the Drexel University Alumni Association, Drexel University at Burlington County College,
and the Drexel University Center for Graduate Studies.
We would like to thank our campus and community partners who helped make each project a success: AmeriCorps; Burlington County Clean Communities; Campus Activities Board; Center for Civic Engagement; City of Sacramento Department
of Parks and Recreation; Communications Services & Support (Frank Cymbala '82) ; Drexel Athletics; Drexel Green; Drexel Interfraternity Alumni Association; Drexel Smart House; Facilities Management; Fairmount Park; Fraternity & Sorority Life; Global Youth Service Day; Goodwin College; Government & Community Relations; Great American Cleanup; Kardon Photography (Sean Kardon '98); Keep California Beautiful; LeBow College of Business; Sacramento Graduate Student Association; Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Visit the Alumni Photo Gallery to view photos from the 2010 CAN DU Earth Day Projects. And, click here to view a slideshow of highlights from the projects!
More than 200 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and other volunteers joined CAN DU, for a day of service at Morton McMichael Elementary School in West Philadelphia. In partnership with Drexel's Office of Government and Community Relations, our Drexel volunteers joined together to revitalize and transform the school’s teacher’s garden, pre-k and kindergarten playground, and library.
In addition to the physical transformations, the Drexel community supported the students at McMichael School through a drive for school supplies and recreation equipment led by Drexel's Center for Civic Engagement.
Click here to view highlights from the day!
BEFORE VIDEOS
Take a moment to check out some "before" videos prepared by Thomas Dahan from Drexel's Center for Civic Engagement of the teacher's garden, library, and pre-k and kindergarten playground below, and look for a video of the CAN DU transformation coming soon!
SPECIAL THANKS
In addition to the volunteers and the Drexel University Alumni Association, we would like to thank the many campus and community partners who are joining CAN DU in this project, including our Drexel partners: Athletics, Center for Civic Engagement, Division of Student Life, Drexel Smart House, Facilities Management, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Goodwin College, LeBow College of Business, Office of Campus Activities, Office of Government & Community Relations, Printing & Mailing Services, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, The iSchool at Drexel – The College of Information Science and Technology; and our community partners: Black Lab Apparel, Curb Appeal, Flooring Central, Johnson & Johnson, Mantua Community Improvement Committee, Numonics Corporation, Philadelphia Horticultural Society, Schiller Grounds Care, Shearon Environmental Design, Spiro's Restaurant and Pizza, University City District Graffiti Removal Team, UC Green, Waste Management.
On Saturday, April 25, 2009, the Drexel University Alumni Association’s Community Alumni Network at Drexel University (CAN DU) partnered with UC Green and the Young Friends of University City (Youcie) to sponsor its Second Annual Earth Day Project. This year's project focused on the revitalization of Malcolm X Memorial Park, located at 51st Street and Osage Avenues, as well as clean-up and tree planting along neighborhood blocks in West Philadelphia and University City.
Thank you to our Drexel partners: Center for Civic Engagement,
Chestnut Street Caterers,
DAC Pack,
Division of Student Life,
Drexel Green,
Drexel Inter-Fraternity Alumni Association,
Drexel Sierra Student Coalition,
Drexel Smart House,
Facilities Management,
Fraternity and Sorority Life,
Goodwin College,
LeBow College of Business,
Office of Government and Community Relations,
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee,
Undergraduate Student Government Association. And to: Fairmount Park Conservancy,
Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center,
University City District.
Alumni, students, faculty and staff joined friends, families and coworkers to celebrate Earth Day 2008 with a clean-up project in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park sponsored by the Drexel University Alumni Association.
Click logos below for news coverage of the event:
 
The Drexel community was also invited to observe Earth Day with an Earth Day Educational Fair on April 8 and an Earth Week Lecture with Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, on April 10.
Thank you to our Drexel partners who helped make the project a success, including: Center for Civic Engagement
(Pennoni Honors College),
Circle K,The DAC Pack,
Department of Athletics,
Fraternity and Sorority Life,
Division of Student Life,
LeBow College of Business,
School of Public Health,
Undergraduate Student Government Association,
and the Drexel Smart House. And to The Fairmount Park Commission, The Earth Day Network, Connexus Technology, and PhillyCarShare.
The American Diabetes Association's STEP UP TO FIGHT DIABETES is a fund-raising event unlike any other. Walking a professionally planned, 10-mile course, participants journey across Philadelphia's staircases – from Independence Park to City Hall, along the Schuylkill River path to the Philadelphia Art Museum, from the famously grand to the quirky and obscure. CAN DU volunteers assisted with support for the STEP UP participants.
Drexel volunteers lent their support to The American Diabetes Association during their annual Tour de Cure bike race. Volunteers assisted at water stations, the finish line and at registration.
CAN DU took part in WHYY FM’s annual membership drive. The day was fun and rewarding as we assisted the studio in answering phone calls, receiving pledges. Drexel alumni supported this initiative along with other universities including Temple, University of Pennsylvania, and Penn State
The Alumni Association in partnership with various Drexel colleges and schools formalized its commitment to the greater Philadelphia community as we sponsored a day of service to the Katharine Drexel Project which supports Our Mother of Sorrows and St. Ignatius grade schools at 48th & Lancaster Streets in West Philadelphia.
Alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends worked from dusk till dawn painting, building, planting, raking, designing, programming and sharing their talents to help two schools in need. Throughout the process and the day’s activities we shared in a wonderful experience with the K-8 students, administrators, and the faculty of Our Mother of Sorrows and St. Ignatius.
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The Drexel University Alumni Association won a Gold Award in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) 2010 Circle of Excellence Award Competition for its outreach program, the Community Alumni Network at Drexel University (CAN DU). Among thirty-four other entries in the Collaborative Programs category, CAN DU was one of just two Gold Award recipients.
The Collaborative Programs category recognizes partnerships across two or more institutional departments which serve as models for other institutions, demonstrate good planning and objectives, and show solid results. In addition, they must demonstrate creativity and innovation in thought and execution, show an understanding of the target audience, and support the mission of the institution.
CAN DU supports Drexel University alumni, students, faculty, and staff in making a difference in our community. This group embraces civic engagement, social responsibility, giving back, volunteerism, and leadership development. The effort is led by the Drexel Office of Alumni Relations, working with talented alumni with the motivation to provide time and resources which enable campus and community partnerships and outreach with Drexel alumni in the Greater Philadelphia region, nation, and globe.
CAN DU held community service projects in conjunction with Earth Day for the last three consecutive years. Enlisting the help of hundreds of volunteers, as well as campus and community partners, CAN DU led the charge to beautify and restore Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park in 2008, Malcolm X Memorial Park in 2009, and Cobbs Creek Park in 2010, and plans for a 2011 Earth Day project are underway.
In October 2009, more than 200 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and other volunteers joined CAN DU, for a day of service at Morton McMichael Elementary School in West Philadelphia. In partnership with Drexel’s Office of Government and Community Relations, the volunteers joined together to transform and revitalize the school’s teachers’ garden, pre-k and kindergarten playground, and library, as well as coordinate a school supply drive. |
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