Reports & News

$10 MILLION TO ENDOW FOX LEADERSHIP

Alumni Robert A. Fox and Penny Grossman Fox have made a gift of $10 million to endow and expand the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. The Fox Program will continue to expand the applied-focus events, courses and hands-on learning experiences it offers to undergraduates. During the 2007-2008 academic year, Fox-affiliated instructors are offering eight courses that address pressing issues, such as Leadership and Democracy: Theory, Practice, Purpose and Leadership and Community Service. The program also offers extensive opportunities for students to participate in service projects, including the Fox Leadership in New Orleans, Louisiana program, part of the largest university-based service initiative directed toward Hurricane Katrina relief. Among other initiatives, this program annually sends 100 students to New Orleans for one-week spring break service trips and supports 20 10-week paid summer internships in New Orleans-area communities serving non-profit organizations.

FOX LAUNCHES FOX LEADERSHIP IN NEW ORLEANS, LA

The Fox Leadership Program has recently expanded it's commitment to New Orleans, with the launch of Fox Leadership in New Orleans, Louisiana (FLINOLA). Annually, Fox will send 100 students to New Orleans for one-week service trips during spring break, as well as support 20 ten-week paid summer internships in New Orleans area community serving non-profits. Fox's commitment to New Orleans began in September 2005 when former New Orleans mayor, Marc Morial (C '80), delivered a talk at Penn just weeks after the storm. Since then, Fox has supported over 250 student volunteers in the Gulf Coast area.

PENN LEADS THE VOTE LAUNCHES WEBSITE

Penn Leads the Vote, Fox's student-run non-partisan voter registration and mobilization campaign, has launched their website in preparation of the 2007-2008 academic year. The wesbite, www.leadthevote.org, includes information regarding how to register to vote in the 2007 mayoral election and lists the on-campus polling locations. In addition to voting information, the site also features links to policy papers, public opinion polls, and regularly updated artilces from leading political columnists. Check back soon for information regarding the 2008 Presidential Candidates and their policy platforms.

FOX CLASS VISITS NEW ORLEANS

During Spring Break 2007, 19 Penn students traveled to New Orleans as part of Dr. DiIulio's undergraduate seminar Religion and U.S. Public Policy: The Case of Post-Katrina New Orleans. The goal of the trip was to investigate what faith-based organizations are doing to aid in the recovery and how they can continue to effectively contribute to the rebuilding effort. While in New Orleans, the class interviewed a wide variety of sources including representatives from large national faith-based organizations, local ministers and priests, and staff members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. They concluded that while religious non-profits have lead the charge for recovery, the task of revitalizing New Orleans is too large to be accomplished by faith-based organizations alone. Partnerships with government are necessary, as only the federal government has the resources to truly rebuild New Orleans. Click here for a full report of the classes findings.

FOX ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ITS ANNUAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Four Penn seniors were awarded the Fox Leadrship Award at the 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Awards Ceremony in May. The Fox Leadership Award is given annually to a student or students who are actively involved in creating positive changes in the University community and clearly demonstrate a transfer of his or her vision into implementation. This year's recipients were Bren Darrow (President of Penn Leads the Vote), Andrew Mener (Founder and Captain of Penn's Medical Emergency Response Team), Rachel Meyer (Co-Founder of FarmEcology), and Emma Kirwan (Co-founder of FarmEcology).

STUDENT AWARDED FOR HIS WORK WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

In the fall of his sophomore year, Bill Breedlove (C '07) joined Big Brothers Big Sisters on a whim. Two years later, he is the student president of one of the largest school-based mentoring programs of any college in the country. Bill has built on the success of former-student President, Greg Robinson (C ’06), and plans to continue the growth of the program through a campus-wide recruitment effort. Currently the Penn program includes more than 260 student mentors. For his on-going efforts as a student leader and a Big Brother, Bill was the Philadelphia Eagles runner-up for the NFL's Community Quarterback Award, which recognizes those who go above and beyond to serve their community. We are very proud of the work that Bill and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Student Organization are doing and look forward to the continued success of the program.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS PROGRAM EXPANDS TO INCLUDE OVER 250 MENTORS

In 2003, the Fox Leadership Program launched a mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The goal of the partnership is to provide quality mentoring experiences for the “littles," while broadening the social spectrum of students at Penn. Four years later this partnership has grown into one of the largest of its kind. As of November 20th, 2006 there were over 250 matches, a 40% increase from the previous year.

The Penn “Bigs” are currently mentoring in 7 West Philadelphia schools and after school programs, usually during the lunch or afternoon hours. This year a new Saturday program has been added, matching Penn students with children from KIPP Academy. KIPP Academy is public charter school focused on promoting high levels of achievement and leadership in a college preparatory middle school environment. While most of the Penn matches are strictly school-based, these relationships are “enhanced,” meaning that the children from KIPP Academy come to Penn’s campus to meet with their Bigs. While at Penn, students have the freedom to bring their “littles” around campus, taking advantage of the many activities and facilities that the University has to offer. Also, this new Saturday program offers a more flexible option for Penn students who, because of their weekly schedules, wouldn’t otherwise be able to get involved. The KIPP program is a great example of the continued growth of the partnership between the Fox Leadership Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Its success has proven that further expansion of the program is both desirable and feasible.

PENN LEADS THE VOTE 2006 TRIPLES VOTER TURNOUT

Penn Leads the Vote, a non-partisan, student-run voter mobilization drive developed by the Fox Leadership Program, mounted a broad campaign that reminded students about Election Day and ensured that they knew when and where to vote. At the closing of the polling locations, voter turnout numbers showed that all of their hard work paid off -- voter turnout on campus reached 300% of 2002's midterm turnout! Over 1,000 more students (1,521) voted on campus this year than in 2002 (509).

The group, on the web at www.leadthevote.org, reached out to over a dozen major student groups on campus, from minority and religious groups to student government. Students distributed thousands of flyers listing polling places by campus residence, posted the information across dozens of listservs and handed out nearly 1,000 "Penn Leads the Vote" red and blue T-shirts. Penn Leads the Vote also had an "Election Day Countdown" viewed 40,000 times per day on the Penn network of Facebook.com.

This effort was entirely student run, and was founded in 2004, when students logged an astounding 280% turnout (compared to 2000). College senior Bren Darrow, president of Penn Leads the Vote, described the increases as "irrefutable evidence that our model works. Young people can have a dramatic impact on politics: all it takes is student leadership."

REPORT ISSUED Making Food Stamps Work: A Report on the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger's Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign 2003-2006.

In June 2006 Fox Fellow Mary Summers released Making Food Stamps Work: A Report on the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger's Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign 2003-2006. The enrollment campaign has involved hundreds of college students who helped provide information on the food stamp program and helped eligible Philadelphians apply for benefits. In the first 18 months of the enrollment campaign, almost $5 million in additional benefits were received by low-income Philadelphians. Fox Faculty Director Dr. John DiIulio said that “This campaign is an outstanding example of service linked to citizenship. Coalition volunteers are working to improve access to one of the nation’s most important safety-net programs.”

MEDICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM STARTS SERVING PENN COMMUNITY

In April 2006 a group of student leaders launched the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT). MERT, which was established with the assistance of the Fox Program, provides EMT services on Penn’s campus and nearby neighborhoods. MERT is entirely student run--the leadership of the organization and all service providers are certified EMTs and Penn undergraduate students. Undergraduate run EMT programs are an emerging trend on the nation’s campuses and Penn student are helping several Philadelphia area universities establish EMT programs.

Click here for the MERT website

DON'T TAKE A BREAK FROM LEADERSHIP

The Fox Program ran “Don’t Take a Break From Leadership” during Spring Break in March 2006. As part of Don’t Take a Break From Leadership almost 100 students from 6 organizations developed and implemented service projects designed to help the residents of Lousiana and Mississippi recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina. Students from the Newman Center worked on projects in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi; the students from the Chaplain’s Office and the Center for Community Partnerships worked in Lafayette, La; and students from the Campus Crusade for Christ, Civic House and Hillel worked in New Orleans. The Fox Program hosted a “Fox Forum” in New Orleans at which the students heard from several Penn Alums who are active in the rebuilding process including Miles Bruder of Governor Blanco’s office and a member of the commission tasked with developing the plan for e-building New Orleans.

Click here for additional details and a pictorial essay of Don't Take a Break From Leadership

STUDENT COALITION AGAINST HUNGER (SCAH)

The Student Coalition Against Hunger (SCAH) is committed to fighting hunger through education, outreach, and advocacy and works closely with The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. The Student Coalition Against Hunger aims to screen low-income residents for food stamp eligibility, learn about poverty and encourage student involvement in efforts to address the causes and consequences of poverty. As part of SCAH, students conduct outreach, eligibility screenings, and application assistance for the food stamp enrollment campaign. Students involved in this effort will contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of this major public entitlement program while being exposed to the reality of poverty in the U.S. Over the past two and a half years, 51 Penn students have volunteered with the Food Stamp Program. Students have increased enrollment and have been critical players in the effort to begin transforming a welfare system that is not serving low-income families to its fullest potential. Besides screening for food stamp eligibility, students organized a speakers' series that addressed issues of hunger, poverty, and public policy; organized Food Stamp Information Fairs at supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods; organized a Penn team for the Walk Against Hunger; volunteered at a soup kitchen and distributed information on food stamps, and organized service events with organizations such as SHARE and MANNA.

Questions? Contact contact Mary Summers at mysummer@sas.upenn.edu

Farrah Freis and Jason Oberman brief President Gutmann and Dr. DiIulio on their plan that nearly tripled the number of Penn undergraduate students who voted in the '04 election.

PENN VOTER TURNOUT A SUCCESS!

Penn Leads the Vote, a nonpartisan initiative of the Fox Program, increased voter turnout among Penn undergraduate students by an estimated 280 percent in the 2004 Presidential election. “Our work was not about whether Bush or Kerry won, but instead about getting out the youth vote and representing the youth voice,” Jason Oberman, Co-President of Penn Leads the Vote, reported to the DP. Co-President Farrah Freis credited their success to reaching “the student through student leaders.” Now their challenge is to sustain the energy and keep their fellow students engaged.

Click here for the full article.

Thinking Big: Fox Leadership Students Take on Poverty in Paraguay

Fox students, assisted by Tobati students, begin construction of a multi-use sports floor at Cap. San Pedro Juan Caballero high school.

Imagine a city so entrenched in poverty that if you’re upper middle class, you might have running water. Imagine a school so impoverished that the only bathroom facility is a small out-house with a bucket for a toilet. Imagine a country so deprived that dirt floors, partial roofs, and scarce food, water, and clothing are a way of life. These conditions are just a few of the many hardships faced by the residents of Tobati, Paraguay, a provincial area situated 40 miles east of the nation’s capital, Asuncion, and the site of the Fox Leadership Program’s 2004 International Service Trip.

Click here to read more about the Fox Leadership Program's 2004 International Service Trip.



Newsletters Research & Reports Campus Clips Photo Archive		Reports & News $10 MILLION TO ENDOW FOX LEADERSHIP Alumni Robert A. Fox and Penny Grossman Fox have made a gift of $10 million to endow and expand the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. The Fox Program will continue to expand the applied-focus events, courses and hands-on learning experiences it offers to undergraduates. During the 2007-2008 academic year, Fox-affiliated instructors are offering eight courses that address pressing issues, such as Leadership and Democracy: Theory, Practice, Purpose and Leadership and Community Service. The program also offers extensive opportunities for students to participate in service projects, including the Fox Leadership in New Orleans, Louisiana program, part of the largest university-based service initiative directed toward Hurricane Katrina relief. Among other initiatives, this program annually sends 100 students to New Orleans for one-week spring break service trips and supports 20 10-week paid summer internships in New Orleans-area communities serving non-profit organizations. FOX LAUNCHES FOX LEADERSHIP IN NEW ORLEANS, LA The Fox Leadership Program has recently expanded it's commitment to New Orleans, with the launch of Fox Leadership in New Orleans, Louisiana (FLINOLA). Annually, Fox will send 100 students to New Orleans for one-week service trips during spring break, as well as support 20 ten-week paid summer internships in New Orleans area community serving non-profits. Fox's commitment to New Orleans began in September 2005 when former New Orleans mayor, Marc Morial (C '80), delivered a talk at Penn just weeks after the storm. Since then, Fox has supported over 250 student volunteers in the Gulf Coast area. PENN LEADS THE VOTE LAUNCHES WEBSITE Penn Leads the Vote, Fox's student-run non-partisan voter registration and mobilization campaign, has launched their website in preparation of the 2007-2008 academic year. The wesbite, www.leadthevote.org, includes information regarding how to register to vote in the 2007 mayoral election and lists the on-campus polling locations. In addition to voting information, the site also features links to policy papers, public opinion polls, and regularly updated artilces from leading political columnists. Check back soon for information regarding the 2008 Presidential Candidates and their policy platforms. FOX CLASS VISITS NEW ORLEANS During Spring Break 2007, 19 Penn students traveled to New Orleans as part of Dr. DiIulio's undergraduate seminar Religion and U.S. Public Policy: The Case of Post-Katrina New Orleans. The goal of the trip was to investigate what faith-based organizations are doing to aid in the recovery and how they can continue to effectively contribute to the rebuilding effort. While in New Orleans, the class interviewed a wide variety of sources including representatives from large national faith-based organizations, local ministers and priests, and staff members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. They concluded that while religious non-profits have lead the charge for recovery, the task of revitalizing New Orleans is too large to be accomplished by faith-based organizations alone. Partnerships with government are necessary, as only the federal government has the resources to truly rebuild New Orleans. Click here for a full report of the classes findings. FOX ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF ITS ANNUAL LEADERSHIP AWARD Four Penn seniors were awarded the Fox Leadrship Award at the 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Awards Ceremony in May. The Fox Leadership Award is given annually to a student or students who are actively involved in creating positive changes in the University community and clearly demonstrate a transfer of his or her vision into implementation. This year's recipients were Bren Darrow (President of Penn Leads the Vote), Andrew Mener (Founder and Captain of Penn's Medical Emergency Response Team), Rachel Meyer (Co-Founder of FarmEcology), and Emma Kirwan (Co-founder of FarmEcology). STUDENT AWARDED FOR HIS WORK WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS In the fall of his sophomore year, Bill Breedlove (C '07) joined Big Brothers Big Sisters on a whim. Two years later, he is the student president of one of the largest school-based mentoring programs of any college in the country. Bill has built on the success of former-student President, Greg Robinson (C ’06), and plans to continue the growth of the program through a campus-wide recruitment effort. Currently the Penn program includes more than 260 student mentors. For his on-going efforts as a student leader and a Big Brother, Bill was the Philadelphia Eagles runner-up for the NFL's Community Quarterback Award, which recognizes those who go above and beyond to serve their community. We are very proud of the work that Bill and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Student Organization are doing and look forward to the continued success of the program. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS PROGRAM EXPANDS TO INCLUDE OVER 250 MENTORS In 2003, the Fox Leadership Program launched a mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The goal of the partnership is to provide quality mentoring experiences for the “littles," while broadening the social spectrum of students at Penn. Four years later this partnership has grown into one of the largest of its kind. As of November 20th, 2006 there were over 250 matches, a 40% increase from the previous year. The Penn “Bigs” are currently mentoring in 7 West Philadelphia schools and after school programs, usually during the lunch or afternoon hours. This year a new Saturday program has been added, matching Penn students with children from KIPP Academy. KIPP Academy is public charter school focused on promoting high levels of achievement and leadership in a college preparatory middle school environment. While most of the Penn matches are strictly school-based, these relationships are “enhanced,” meaning that the children from KIPP Academy come to Penn’s campus to meet with their Bigs. While at Penn, students have the freedom to bring their “littles” around campus, taking advantage of the many activities and facilities that the University has to offer. Also, this new Saturday program offers a more flexible option for Penn students who, because of their weekly schedules, wouldn’t otherwise be able to get involved. The KIPP program is a great example of the continued growth of the partnership between the Fox Leadership Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Its success has proven that further expansion of the program is both desirable and feasible. PENN LEADS THE VOTE 2006 TRIPLES VOTER TURNOUT Penn Leads the Vote, a non-partisan, student-run voter mobilization drive developed by the Fox Leadership Program, mounted a broad campaign that reminded students about Election Day and ensured that they knew when and where to vote. At the closing of the polling locations, voter turnout numbers showed that all of their hard work paid off -- voter turnout on campus reached 300% of 2002's midterm turnout! Over 1,000 more students (1,521) voted on campus this year than in 2002 (509). The group, on the web at www.leadthevote.org, reached out to over a dozen major student groups on campus, from minority and religious groups to student government. Students distributed thousands of flyers listing polling places by campus residence, posted the information across dozens of listservs and handed out nearly 1,000 "Penn Leads the Vote" red and blue T-shirts. Penn Leads the Vote also had an "Election Day Countdown" viewed 40,000 times per day on the Penn network of Facebook.com. This effort was entirely student run, and was founded in 2004, when students logged an astounding 280% turnout (compared to 2000). College senior Bren Darrow, president of Penn Leads the Vote, described the increases as "irrefutable evidence that our model works. Young people can have a dramatic impact on politics: all it takes is student leadership." REPORT ISSUED Making Food Stamps Work: A Report on the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger's Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign 2003-2006. In June 2006 Fox Fellow Mary Summers released Making Food Stamps Work: A Report on the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger's Food Stamp Enrollment Campaign 2003-2006. The enrollment campaign has involved hundreds of college students who helped provide information on the food stamp program and helped eligible Philadelphians apply for benefits. In the first 18 months of the enrollment campaign, almost $5 million in additional benefits were received by low-income Philadelphians. Fox Faculty Director Dr. John DiIulio said that “This campaign is an outstanding example of service linked to citizenship. Coalition volunteers are working to improve access to one of the nation’s most important safety-net programs.” MEDICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM STARTS SERVING PENN COMMUNITY In April 2006 a group of student leaders launched the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT). MERT, which was established with the assistance of the Fox Program, provides EMT services on Penn’s campus and nearby neighborhoods. MERT is entirely student run--the leadership of the organization and all service providers are certified EMTs and Penn undergraduate students. Undergraduate run EMT programs are an emerging trend on the nation’s campuses and Penn student are helping several Philadelphia area universities establish EMT programs. Click here for the MERT website DON'T TAKE A BREAK FROM LEADERSHIP The Fox Program ran “Don’t Take a Break From Leadership” during Spring Break in March 2006. As part of Don’t Take a Break From Leadership almost 100 students from 6 organizations developed and implemented service projects designed to help the residents of Lousiana and Mississippi recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina. Students from the Newman Center worked on projects in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi; the students from the Chaplain’s Office and the Center for Community Partnerships worked in Lafayette, La; and students from the Campus Crusade for Christ, Civic House and Hillel worked in New Orleans. The Fox Program hosted a “Fox Forum” in New Orleans at which the students heard from several Penn Alums who are active in the rebuilding process including Miles Bruder of Governor Blanco’s office and a member of the commission tasked with developing the plan for e-building New Orleans. Click here for additional details and a pictorial essay of Don't Take a Break From Leadership STUDENT COALITION AGAINST HUNGER (SCAH) The Student Coalition Against Hunger (SCAH) is committed to fighting hunger through education, outreach, and advocacy and works closely with The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. The Student Coalition Against Hunger aims to screen low-income residents for food stamp eligibility, learn about poverty and encourage student involvement in efforts to address the causes and consequences of poverty. As part of SCAH, students conduct outreach, eligibility screenings, and application assistance for the food stamp enrollment campaign. Students involved in this effort will contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of this major public entitlement program while being exposed to the reality of poverty in the U.S. Over the past two and a half years, 51 Penn students have volunteered with the Food Stamp Program. Students have increased enrollment and have been critical players in the effort to begin transforming a welfare system that is not serving low-income families to its fullest potential. Besides screening for food stamp eligibility, students organized a speakers' series that addressed issues of hunger, poverty, and public policy; organized Food Stamp Information Fairs at supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods; organized a Penn team for the Walk Against Hunger; volunteered at a soup kitchen and distributed information on food stamps, and organized service events with organizations such as SHARE and MANNA. Questions? Contact contact Mary Summers at mysummer@sas.upenn.edu Farrah Freis and Jason Oberman brief President Gutmann and Dr. DiIulio on their plan that nearly tripled the number of Penn undergraduate students who voted in the '04 election. PENN VOTER TURNOUT A SUCCESS! Penn Leads the Vote, a nonpartisan initiative of the Fox Program, increased voter turnout among Penn undergraduate students by an estimated 280 percent in the 2004 Presidential election. “Our work was not about whether Bush or Kerry won, but instead about getting out the youth vote and representing the youth voice,” Jason Oberman, Co-President of Penn Leads the Vote, reported to the DP. Co-President Farrah Freis credited their success to reaching “the student through student leaders.” Now their challenge is to sustain the energy and keep their fellow students engaged. Click here for the full article. Thinking Big: Fox Leadership Students Take on Poverty in Paraguay Fox students, assisted by Tobati students, begin construction of a multi-use sports floor at Cap. San Pedro Juan Caballero high school. Imagine a city so entrenched in poverty that if you’re upper middle class, you might have running water. Imagine a school so impoverished that the only bathroom facility is a small out-house with a bucket for a toilet. Imagine a country so deprived that dirt floors, partial roofs, and scarce food, water, and clothing are a way of life. These conditions are just a few of the many hardships faced by the residents of Tobati, Paraguay, a provincial area situated 40 miles east of the nation’s capital, Asuncion, and the site of the Fox Leadership Program’s 2004 International Service Trip. Click here to read more about the Fox Leadership Program's 2004 International Service Trip.