D.C. Hamiltonians were out and about this past Saturday, April 28, lending a hand to help the local community. Hamilton fielded a team as part of the "Hands on D.C. 2007" volunteer project, which sends groups of volunteers to various public schools in the District of Columbia to work on painting or landscaping projects to improve conditions at the schools (many of which desperately need help). Team Hamilton was assigned to the Montgomery Elementary School, which serves one of the poorer neighborhoods in Northwest D.C. According to Washington D.C. Alumni Association President Paul Reichert '90 "The eight of us on the Hamilton team spent the day painting a classroom, turning it from a dirty and peeling yellow classroom into a bright and fresh blue (an appropriate shade for the Hamilton team). Everyone had a great time and we're eager to do a similar volunteer event next year." A special thanks to Marjorie DePuy '90, who helped to organize and rally the troops.
"Hands on D.C." is an all-volunteer project that creates better schools and brighter futures for students in the District of Columbia. Thousands of volunteers have a great time each spring as they join together for a one-day work-a-thon that improves conditions in the public schools and raises money for college scholarships. Since 1994, more than 26,000 volunteers have collected more than $500,000 to help local students pay for further education. These Hands on D.C. volunteers have painted, landscaped and improved the conditions in over 120 DC schools.
Highlighted here is a team photo inside the finished product, after they had bathed themselves in turpentine to remove the blue paint. From left to right: Paul Reichert '90; Sara Schonfeld '99; Bob Pucko '03; Peter Merkel '99; Heather Garlich; Marjorie DePuy '90; Colleen Boyce '02 and Eric Boyce '02. Thank you to all our volunteers!
