SMILE

Chairpersons: Sean Hood '03 JD, Nicolle Siele '05

St. Matthew's Interactive Learning Experience
(SMILE)

This past summer marked the 20th Annual St. Matthew’s Interactive Learning Experience (“SMILE”), and we are already looking forward to next summer’s Program!  Each summer, 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, 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. 

Breaking News



  

Hands & Hope for Haiti
This fall, ND alumni and current students will join together to collect 25,000 pounds of clothing for the people of Haiti. The Hands & Hope for Haiti clothing drive will take place on campus from Oct. 4 until the ND-Pittsburgh football game (Nov. 1).

There will be a friendly competition between alumni and current students to see which group can collect the most clothing. The type of clothing that is needed is good quality spring and summer clothing, as well as very gently used footwear. (Please note: winter clothing, as well as clothing in extra large sizes, will not be usable to the people of Haiti, therefore we ask that these be excluded from your contributions.)

Please help the people of Haiti by bringing clothing to the game watches in order to be donated. We hope to join together with other alumni in order to collect more clothing than the students, but more importantly, we would like to be able to provide support and resources to those in need. Thanks for your help!