University Times

Nearly 300 Pitt faculty and staff took part in this year's United Way Day of Caring Sept. 9.

Steve Zupcic, Pitt's Day of Caring coordinator, has seen a big transition in the annual day when Pitt volunteers give of their time and energy.

"In the past, virtually all of our Day of Caring projects were recruited University-wide. But now we have projects that take advantage of University resources. Personnel from Human Resources spent the day at Renewal Incorporated, a Downtown agency helping unemployed individuals who have been convicted of minor or non-violent crimes, assisting them with job-seeking: resume development, filling out job applications, conducting interviews. In other words, helping with skills that Human Resources helps with every day," Zupcic said.

"Similarly, the Katz school helped the American Red Cross with business relocation. In a large relocation project, an organization needs help with transferring files, setting up e-mail, lots of things like that, where expertise from a business school is very valuable," he said. Despite the change in volunteer projects, many traditional ones remain. "We still have a half-dozen or so projects that have survived from past years. We're still oriented to focus on our neighbors in Oakland, West Oakland and the Hill District," Zupcic added.