LIFT offers a unique model of civic engagement for its student volunteers. Unlike other volunteer opportunities on college campuses, LIFT provides a sustained commitment to community issues and poverty alleviation where volunteers work four to 10 hours per week in a year-long commitment, an average of 73 hours per year – nearly two times that of their state, regional and national counterparts.
Through service with LIFT, students are directly exposed to the systemic causes, issues, and solutions to poverty. The intention is that the LIFT volunteer experience will have a profound effect on individual students by instilling key values. LIFT alumni go on to pursue careers across all sectors, championing the practices and policies that aim to eliminate poverty. From pursuing degrees in social work and public policy to working as case managers and social workers, many LIFT alumni become public servants in the social service or government sectors. Other alumni engaged in work in the private sector continue to volunteer and contribute philanthropically to causes aimed at eradicating domestic poverty.
