Donate Now
Supporting the Alternative Breaks Program
As part of the service learning experience and to cover the costs of the Alternative Breaks Program trips, participating students are required to fundraise for the overall AB Program. Students engage in multiple methods to raise money which include but are not limited to, individual and corporate donations, bake sales, percent nights at local restaurants.
Gifts in support of the University of South Carolina Alternative Breaks Program are accepted and managed by the University of South Carolina. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor.
Make a Gift:
• Support the Program on behalf of a student or trip
• Make a payment by CHECK: Checks can be mailed to Community Service Programs, Russell House University Union, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208
• Matching Gift Donations: If your company is able to make a matching gift donation, send the following to the Community Service Programs, Russell House University Union, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208:
- Completed Matching Gift Form
- Proof of donation (to be matched) – this could be accompanied by the check and form (above) OR a copy of the payment confirmation
- Do not forget to note the name of the student (or trip) on behalf of whom you are making the donation and the matching gift request.
• Sponsorship and Naming Opportunities: For large donations various naming and sponsorship opportunities are available to organizations or individuals who wish to donate to the Alternative Break program. For more information please contact Theresa Harrison at 803.777.3197 or saserve@mailbox.sc.edu
Alternative Break Programs
Sponsored by Community Service Programs- Campus Life Center, Alternative Break is a week long, substance-free, community service-learning trip during the university's fall, winter, and spring breaks. AB participants travel locally and nationally in teams to different cities, engage in active service, and have the opportunity to gain new perspectives on social issues while meeting community needs, and learning about and building upon community assets.
Vision
The Alternative Break program creates learning opportunities through immersion experiences that foster social change and develop change agents.
Mission
The Alternative Break (AB) program promotes leadership, community service-learning, and student involvement as integral aspects of college education. AB facilitates leadership learning and community service-learning across the curriculum and co-curriculum for lifelong application. AB promotes leadership, civic engagement, and multicultural competence within individuals, groups, and systems for the advancement of a socially responsible citizenry. AB is committed to education, community development, and empowerment through service-learning.
Additionally, the AB program ignites critical thinking as a result of social engagement through complex community immersions on the local, regional, and national, levels by combing advocacy, reflection, and meaningful conversation toward developing students' leadership efficacy, skills, and courage to engage in social action for positive community outcomes.
Donations
In an effort to cover the cost for student's participation in one of our AB trips, students take on the challenge of fundraising. Students engage in multiple methods to raise money which include, individual donations, concession work at sporting events, bake sales, specialty day's at local restaurants to name a few.