Thursday, July 23, 2015

Internship Creates "Summer of Purpose" for English Major

Senior English major Kristina DeGirolamo '16 is spending her summer interning in a field that she feels truly passionate about: nonprofit work. DeGirolamo is as an advancement (fundraising) intern with Stepstone Academy, a charter school associated with Ohio Guidestone.

The paid, competitive internship is supported by the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship program which connects undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful, career-related experiences in nonprofit and public sector agencies.

During her first week on the job, she experienced fundraising in action on a large scale at Stepstone's annual Golf Classic event.

Writing on the Cleveland's Foundation's blog, DeGirolamo said, from the beginning, she felt at home with the faculty, staff and students. "I've seen staff who come into work with a grin every day, students who are excited about learning and donors who want to impact the lives of others."

DeGirolamo believes that nonprofits are key to any city, especially Cleveland where organizations such as Stepstone Academy have made it their mission to improve the lives of others in the community. For DeGirolamo, this truly is a "Summer of Purpose."
As part of their "Summer of Purpose," DeGirolamo (2nd from left) and 17 other Cleveland Foundation interns visited Cleveland City Hall and met with Mayor Frank Jackson.