The Big Event is a nationally recognized day of service celebrated by the UNT community on Saturday, April 2, 2016. Each Spring volunteers contribute over 10,000 hours of service in over 7 cities in Denton County. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and student organizations are all welcome to participate.
Day of information
Join the thousands of UNT Eagles as we join together in helping our community. All Big Event volunteers are encouraged to come to the Breakfast and Kick-off on the Onstead Promenade from 7:30 am-8:30 am before departing for service sites. The BIG Event Block Party will be immediately following service on the Onstead Promenade.
Participate
Sign up as an individual or your student organization to participate on the big day!
or join a Committee
Big Event and Make a Difference Day’s success replies on the passionate members who help with event planning and execution, recruitment, and other programming throughout the year leading up to the main events.
Host a Site
The Center for Leadership and Service is seeking community organizations to host volunteers on Saturday April 2, 2016 from 9am-2pm.
Want to Make a Difference?
Registration for The Big Event is quick and simple. Simply click our registration button. Follow the steps to register as an individual or as a student organization.
How to register
Sign up as an individual or student organization by filling out the button below and uploading your roster of participants. Registration ends on March 4, 2016 . Roster updates are due on March 11, 2016 Rosters must be finalized by then to secure your spot; after this date no more participants can be added to your organization’s roster.
What does a typical volunteer project do?
A typical volunteer project done during Big Event can vary greatly from one job site to another. Currently all of our projects are with non-profits in the Denton County area. Our projects can vary from environmental projects, carnivals, road clean ups, animal shelters, campus clean ups, Be the Match, etc.
We hope that the connections formed during The Big Event can lead to more opportunities for the students to serve their community in the future. Some students and organizations will stay in touch with their community partner and continue to volunteer with them after the event.
Register to ParticipateAbout Hosting a Site
The Big Event is seeking community organizations to host volunteers on Saturday, April 2, 2015 from 9am-12 pm. If you would like to host a team of UNT students, staff, and alumni volunteers to help with your organization please click below to register to host volunteers
More information:
What is a typical project?
Typical projects vary from community partner to community partners. We ask that the job be safe and appropriate for our volunteers. Volunteer projects have included planting flower beds, cleaning up lake areas, helping in community gardens, running activities and games for children during carnivals, road clean ups, beautification projects, or working with animals. The volunteer opportunities are endless. Please contact us if you have any concerns about your project. leadandserve@unt.edu
How many volunteers can we request?
Community partners can request as many volunteers as needed. We ask for a minimum of 5, but the maximum can vary.
We do want our partners to note that we sometimes add a few more students over the maximum to aid if volunteers do not show. For example: If a community partner asks for 35 volunteers we will send 40.
What do we need to provide?
Our community partners must be able to provide supplies for their projects. Our volunteers would also appreciate an orientation over your agency and assigned project. It’s helpful if they are able to supply water and a bathroom for our volunteers.
Can I request a specific group?
If the opportunity is available we try our best to make those matches. Please contact us, and we will be happy to work with you.
We can’t host an event during Big Event can we have it on another day?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee volunteers on other days other than Big Event. If you have an upcoming project let us know, and we will be more than happy to send your project out through our Volunteer Newsletter.
If the opportunity is available we try our best to make those matches. Please contact us, and we will be happy to work with you.
Register to Host a SiteJoin Big Event
Big Event success relies on passionate members who help with event planning and execution, fundraising, recruitment, and other programming throughout the year leading up to the main event.
Big Event is a student organization that aims to engage UNT students to become actively involved and committed to community service. The Big Event’s focus is to build relationships with the community. These relationships are what change the lives of those serving those who are being served. It’s not about the type of job, the number of jobs, the jobs completed, or the number of students that participate. It is about the interaction with the community and resulting unity in the local area that makes the BIG Event BIG!
Want to be on the Big Event?Executive Board
Applications are available each March for the Big Event Executive Board. Meet our 2015-2016 Board.
Sahara and Sumiya
Executive DirectorThe Executive Directors’ role in The Big Event is centered on organizing and planning the year’s events. The Executive Directors supervises the rest of the Director Board to ensure that work is getting done efficiently and the deadlines are being met. The Executive Directors delegate responsibilities, act as a problem solver, mediator, cheerleader, and supports the Board and general committee members. The Executive Directors are ultimately responsible for setting the vision and legacy of the year’s Big Event. They are responsible for the overall success of the program, of each individual Director and the general committee.
Joe and Emily
Directors of Programming
The Director of Programming first focus is the Welcoming Ceremony and the BIG Event Block Party, during Big Event. This includes the morning and afternoon scripts, the set up for the Welcome and Block party, activities, instructions, and the needs of both events. The Directors of Programming looks to inspire student participants and members of the organization, and provide them with best possible experience overall.
Jesse and Victor
Directors of Recruitment
The Directors of Recruitment’s focus is on the recruitment and retention of students, staff, faculty, and alumni that will ultimately become a part of the Big Event. The Director works year round to promote Big Event on campus and get people motivated to participate in make a Difference Day and The Big Event. The Director of Recruitment is ultimately responsible for the recruitment and retention of the make a Difference Day and the Big Event participants, and the recruitment, along with the Director of Development, of the general committee.
Eddie and Jackie
Directors of OutreachThe Directors of Outreaches’’ focus is to get the word out about the Big Event to the University and the local community. They work in collaboration with the Directors of Recruitment and the Directors of Programming. The Directors are responsible for gathering donations for prizes for the Welcome Ceremony and BIG Event Block Party. They are ultimately responsible for taking the necessary steps to perpetuate the Big Event in terms of reputation and recognition, and aiding in the successful continuation and growth of the programs.
De’Nay
Director of DevelopmentThe Director of Development’s responsibility is to improve the quality of the Big Event through empowering the Big Event members, promoting unity, and striving towards excellence in every aspect.