GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.

Many students choose to give back to the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, contributing what they can to support the greater good. Gifts can be made to support a variety of scholarships, programs, research and even professional development opportunities.

For Master of Social Work (MSW) student William Montgomery, the inspiration to make a gift came in the form of an email. “I was inspired to give after receiving an email from the head of the school that income was down and costs were being cut,” he said. “I know my gift was just a drop in the bucket, but I wanted to do something and I look forward to giving more in the future.”

Spare change

Doing his monthly budget recently, MSW student Wilmer Rivas realized he had a few dollars left over after covering all of his bills. In the past, he would use his “spare change” to satisfy his love for fast food. Now, he is donating it to help asylum seekers fleeing violence.

Rivas is a Marine Corp veteran who grew up in the Lennox neighborhood of South Los Angeles.  He joined the Marines right after high school, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. “After our deployment, I noticed some friends were struggling with mental health issues, and for the most part, in the military, you don't really see people seeking mental health resources. They usually turn more towards drinking and internalizing all that. I felt that there was a need for more mental health awareness.”

Last year, Rivas took Human Behavior and the Social Environment taught by Clinical Associate Professor Kristen Zaleski, and was introduced to the work of the Keck Human Rights Clinic. The school of social work is a partner in the clinic, which aids refugees in their claims for asylum in the U.S. by providing forensic medical and psychological evaluations to support asylum legal cases.

When Zaleski mentioned the clinic was in need of additional funding to cover costs, Rivas immediately knew he wanted to become more involved. “They are doing very important work, advocating for such a vulnerable group,” Rivas said. “Without these resources, they may very well face deportation.”

In Afghanistan, Rivas saw people living in places that have been ravaged by war for almost 20 years, and it gave him an understanding of why people want and need to flee violence. “It’s human nature that they’re going to seek safety,” he said. “For those of us who have been deployed, you learn to appreciate what you have in the U.S. When you’ve seen what’s going on, it gives you more compassion.”

Rivas continues to donate on a monthly basis. “If I have spare change, I donate,” he said. “The more we can get to them, the more support they can provide.”

Helping change the world

MSW student Jody Schnurrenberger was heartbroken when she had to leave the Army. She suffered a traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq as a behavioral health technician.

Discharged in 2016, Schnurrenberger continues to work through her physical and psychological hardships, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite all of this, she is completing her first semester at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, pursuing dual graduate degrees in social work and gerontology.

“I’ve found the professors here so amazing,” Schnurrenberger said. “I have trouble focusing, processing and my attention is impacted by my injury, but they are helping make sure I stay on track.”

Schnurrenberger comes from a family dedicated to education. Giving back to the school honors this family legacy, supports her new community that is supporting her so well and adds to her commitment to making the world a better place.

“Giving makes me feel good,” she said. “I enjoy the process and imagining what good my money might be doing. Helping real students get real degrees, who will most likely go off to make real change in the world. What better thing is there to invest in than that?”

GivingTuesday is December 1, 2020. Join our students who are giving back by supporting one of our scholarship funds for social work or nursing that help diverse students pursue their dream of receiving an MSW from USC, creating social good and advocating for our most vulnerable individuals, families and communities.