CNR News & Events

CNR STUDENTS TAKE “THE PLUNGE” IN THE NAME OF SERVICE Project will benefit Communities in New York, Texas and Mexico

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, November 24, 2004 -- The College of New Rochelle (CNR) today announced that approximately 20 students from the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS) and School of Nursing (SN) will participate in an annual CNR tradition, performing community service, i.e., the “Plunge”. The students’ efforts will benefit Project Vida Digna (Matamoros, Mexico), El Salon De Las Ursulinas (Brownsville, Texas), and Hale House (New York City) and will take place the week of January 10. It is a continuation of the Centennial Service Project launched last year by Campus Ministry to mark CNR’s 100th anniversary.

Education for service has been an integral part of the CNR mission since its inception in 1904 when Mother Irene Gill of the Order of St. Ursula founded The College of New Rochelle as the first Catholic college for women in New York State.
CNR started the “Plunge” more than 10 years ago to give students the opportunity to perform community service. Last year when students went to Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas, two impoverished communities located on the U.S.-Mexico border, it was the first time in history that CNR’s project had an international component. Under the guidance of Ursuline nuns Sister Norma Raupple and Sister Maria Teresa De Llano, students helped educate Brownsville residents on major health issues affecting their community and helped improve existing housing for Matamoros residents. Ursuline sisters have been part of the Brownsville and Matamoros communities for seven years.

“For the upcoming week of service, students will again address health issues as well as build an entire house from the ground up. The Matamoros family who will reside in the new home will work alongside the CNR volunteers,” said Helen Wolf, Director of Campus Ministry.

For more information on Project Vida Digna, please log on to: www.projectvidadigna.org <http://www.projectvidadigna.org>.
“Students participating in the ‘urban’ Plunge will help care for the young children who reside at Hale House in New York City. This Harlem institution was founded by Mother Clara Hale over 40 years ago to take care of children up to age 4 whose parents are unable to care for them due to illness, financial hardship, incarceration, homelessness, substance abuse, or other reasons,” added Ms. Wolf.

In addition to Ms. Wolf, other CNR staff members who will act as chaperones at the various sites will include Marie Serina, Director of Health Services, Dr. Marya Howell-Carter, Counseling Psychologist, and Silvana Bajana, Director of Purchasing. The participating CNR students come from throughout the metropolitan New York area and include international students.