Miami University

Miami ready to make a big "Difference"

10/11/1999

Miami University's contribution to the 9th annual national Make a Difference Day, Saturday, Oct. 23, will be even bigger than last year's effort that won us a national award.

Senior education major Jeff Griffiths again leads the charge. Last year, a rivalry with his twin, Frank, pitted Miami against the University of Virginia to see who could do the most good in a Make a Difference day competition. Through sponsors, the National Points of Light Foundation and USA WEEKEND, the schools received a $10,000 award for local charities. The Griffiths are from Geneva, Ohio.

Miami volunteers (mostly students, some staff and faculty) have already begun working on this year's Make a Difference Day. Some examples:

• a clothing drive in which anyone is invited to take what they need from a free clothing "store"
• a CANstruction project in which architecture students build with thousands of canned goods and then donate the goods to local food pantries.
• a citywide clean-up, including VIPs from Oxford and campus
• activities with area seniors and developmentally disabled residents
• repairs done for ten Oxford seniors' homes and at city parks
• recycling of cans with proceeds donated to MAD
• fitness event with fees benefiting MAD
• guiding area school students in recycling and making posters for MAD

Jeff's idea for wanting to make a big difference, and challenging his brother's school to do the same, came from a Miami LeaderShape seminar he attended his sophomore year.

Information on last year's award winning projects is at http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/others1999.html. Jeff Griffiths can be reached at (513) 664-5066 or jeffgriffiths@hotmail.com. Frank is at (804) 984-4047 or fbg5s@virginia.edu.