SMILE
Chairpersons: Sean Hood '03 JD and Matt Emerson '08 JD St. Matthew's Interactive Learning Experience This past summer marked the 21st Annual St. Matthew’s Interactive Learning Experience (“SMILE”), and we are already looking forward to next summer’s Program! Each summer, the Notre Dame Club of Phoenix sponsors the SMILE program, which provides grade school children with a weekly opportunity for enriching, positive, and community-based activities. The program takes place on Saturday mornings during the summer, and while based out of St. Matthew’s Parish in Phoenix, all grade school children in the area are welcomed to participate. Current University of Notre Dame students and members of the Notre Dame Club of Phoenix volunteer their time to provide the children with mentoring, positive role models, and the opportunity to participate in activities to which they might otherwise not be exposed. Activities during the past two summers included swimming, roller skating, bumper car racing, movies, bowling, laser tag, trips to Sun Splash, backyard Bar-B-Qs and a basketball clinic sponsored by the Phoenix Suns. These activities provide experiences that are educational and fun, and also allow the children to develop friendships with their peers and mentors. |
