Fresno State sophomore Addison Fore Vasquez has performed community service since she was in the fourth grade, so it made sense to keep it up when she went off to college.
The pre-health major likes to network and to make connections in her community. It was a great way to learn about Fresno, the Wasco native said.
Last year, Vasquez participated in the Fresno State College Corps, a grantee of #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program that helps students pay for college while providing thousands of hours of service to the community. She was paired with Papa Mike’s Café at the Poverello House in downtown Fresno, where she served as a culinary hospitality and logistics fellow.
“I have been able to work firsthand with those who are experiencing homelessness, struggling financially, going through a rehab program or those who just need support in life. Meeting these people and hearing their experiences has been life changing,” said Vasquez, who wants to go into nursing. “My viewpoints and the way I now live my life is all because of those I have met. I have been able to grow in my communication skills, kitchen and restaurant service, and more. Being at this site has made a major impact on my life and I love and appreciate all that has been a part of my journey.”
Vasquez is among thousands of Fresno State students, faculty and staff who provide service hours to the community every year. For the first time ever, Fresno State exceeded 1.6 million hours of service during the 2024-25 academic year. Students, faculty and staff from Fresno State have consistently provided more than 1 million hours of service each year for the past 16 years.
The annual Service Impact on the Community Report by the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning at Fresno State estimates the economic impact of that service to be nearly $66.5 million.
The 2024 value of an hour of volunteer time in California was $40.14 based on calculations from the Independent Sector, a national nonpartisan network of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations and professionals.
“Fresno State has been dedicated to serving our community for decades. Surpassing 1.6 million hours last year is an incredible achievement, but it is simply the most recent step in our ongoing commitment to engaging our students, staff and faculty in meaningful service,” said Chris Fiorentino, who after 32 years of service to Fresno State, is retiring in August as director of the Richter Center. “We look forward to continuing this commitment.”
The services provided range from tutoring to volunteering at campus blood drives and other events on campus, to physical therapy service projects, internships and community revitalization.
Senior Robert Abbate, a business major with an emphasis in accounting, also provided service at the Poverello House through College Corps as a guest engagement fellow. He worked in the mailroom department where guests have their mail forwarded and stored. The department is also a mini mart of sorts, Abbate said, offering things that guests might need such as reading glasses, coloring books and over-the-counter medicine.
“I like that I’m able to actually see results for a lot of the good that I’m able to do,” Abbate said. “I’m working directly with the people that I’m actually helping. So that way, I actually get to see that progress. A big part of what we do, we don’t just try to help people, we try to treat them with a lot of respect and dignity.”
