Fr. Jonathan recently announced a leadership gift to endow the Center for Volunteers (CFV). The commitment from Richard Meelia '71 and his wife, Judy, ensures the continuation—through community coordination, leadership development and volunteer management—of Saint Anselm's tradition of reaching out to others.

"It's a dream come true," said Dan Forbes, director of the CFV. "The Meelia family's investment in us is a sign that someone values not only our current program, but also our potential."

The Meelias not only espouse the values of community service, they practice them in their own lives. A member of the college's Board of Trustees, Richard Meelia is also president and CEO of Tyco Healthcare Group. He and his wife work with Por Cristo, which provides medical services in partnership with the health care community in Ecuador. The Meelias and other host families also extend love, medical care and "hope for a better life" each summer to children from the devastated Ukraine region.

In recognition of their support to Saint Anselm, the center will be renamed the Meelia Center for Community Service.

Each year, the number of partnerships and volunteers working through the center continues to grow. Figures from 2001-2002 show 825 event volunteers and service-learners, as well as a total of 12,500 community service hours. Saint Anselm students mentor at-risk teens; they design after-school programs, serve meals, and act as big brothers and sisters.

"The Center for Volunteers creates opportunities for Saint Anselm students to say, 'I'm part of this world and I want to do my best. I want to make a difference,'" Richard Meelia observes. "Giving their time—and themselves—in service to others is something we're happy to help them experience."