FGCU, Wells Fargo Team Up for National Make a Difference Day

FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 15 -- Florida Gulf Coast University, a component of the Florida state university system, issued the following news release:

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Wells Fargo will join forces Saturday, Oct. 25 to tackle a dozen projects for nonprofit organizations around Southwest Florida on Make a Difference Day.

More than 370 students, alumni, faculty and staff members and Well Fargo representatives will fan out across the region to do volunteer work in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, and Naples on this annual national day of service.

Their projects are:

* Building an outdoor classroom at Easter Seals Florida in Naples.

* Painting the intake area at Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers.

* Preparing food packages for distribution by the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers.

* Outdoor beautification at The Heights Center and at homes in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers

* Meal packing and outdoor beautification at Gladiolus Food Pantry in Fort Myers.

* Painting, organizing, cleaning and landscaping at Quality Life Center in Fort Myers.

* Construction and painting at Salvation Army in Fort Myers.

* Construction and refurbishing of trail stations and outdoor beautification at Special Equestrians in Fort Myers.

* Cleaning up trash and debris along mangroves in Fish Trap Bay adjacent to FGCU's Vester Marine and Environmental Science Research Field Station in Bonita Springs.

* Planting trees and outdoor beautification on the FGCU campus.

* Providing assistance at a Fall Festival Celebration for the children of FGCU's Family Resource Center.

* Garden maintenance at the FGCU Food Forest.

The FGCU Foundation, Alumni Association and Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning are coordinating Make a Difference Day activities. FGCU President Wilson G. Bradshaw will be among those participating.

"Make a Difference Day is one of the most meaningful days of the year here at Florida Gulf Coast University because it truly reflects the ethos of this University - community engagement in the service of Southwest Florida," said Christopher Simoneau, FGCU Foundation Executive Director and Vice President for University Advancement. "We are grateful to Wells Fargo for their partnership in this event. Working together, citizens can change the world one project at a time. We hope that FGCU and Wells Fargos leadership in this regard will help others to join in."

Wells Fargo shares the university's commitment to serving the community.

"Volunteerism is an integral part of our culture at Wells Fargo," said Derek Jones, Wells Fargo Regional President and an FGCU Foundation Trustee. "Our Gulf Coast team members volunteer about 10,000 hours throughout the year, so we're delighted to join FGCU once again to make a difference in our community on this special day."

Wells Fargo & Company is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.6 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852, Well Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs and the Internet, and has offices in more than 36 countries to support the bank's customers who conduct business in the global economy.

This is the third year in which FGCU and Wells Fargo have joined together for Make a Difference Day, an event created by USA Weekend Magazine in 1992 to encourage volunteerism and demonstrate the impact it can have. Millions of people around the country are expected to participate in the annual event.

For more information, contact Nicole Russ, University Advancement Director of Events & Special Projects, at (239) 590-1074 or nruss@fgcu.edu.

CC AutoTriage6yd-141016-30VitinMar-4901608