Saint Mary’s University Career and Experiential Learning (CEL) team has partnered with the IWK Foundation since the winter of 2025 to create meaningful opportunities for students to give back to their community—and the impact of that partnership is already making a difference.
Through CEL, students connect with volunteer and experiential learning opportunities that help them build valuable skills while contributing to the causes they care about. The partnership with the IWK Foundation is particularly meaningful for the SMU team, as many staff members have personal connections to the IWK, having received care or welcomed their children there.
“By connecting SMU students with meaningful volunteer opportunities, we're not only helping support the Foundation's important work, but we’re also empowering students to make a real difference,” says Christy Starkey, Co-Curricular & Career360 Lead. “Seeing our students contribute more than 800 volunteer hours [since the partnership began] is a testament to their generosity, compassion, and commitment to strengthening the communities we call home.”
For CEL, supporting the IWK Foundation is more than volunteering at events — it is an opportunity for students to become engaged members of their community while gaining experiences that help them grow personally and professionally.
“We believe in fostering community engagement and helping students develop through meaningful experiences,” says Novella Nicchitta, Community Service Learning Coordinator. “Seeing our students embrace these opportunities and make a difference is what motivates us to continue this partnership.”
The CEL team hopes the partnership will continue to connect passionate student volunteers with IWK Foundation initiatives, helping make events and fundraising efforts successful while allowing students to see the impact of their contributions firsthand.
The IWK plays an essential role in the health and well-being of women, children and families throughout the Maritimes. By supporting the IWK Foundation, volunteers and community partners like SMU’s CEL team help advance the Foundation’s work to ensure exceptional care and better health outcomes for future generations.
And for those looking for a way to make a difference, SMU has a simple message: get involved.
“Volunteering is one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference, and it also offers opportunities to learn, build relationships, and strengthen your community,” says Christy. “Small contributions, when made collectively, can have an extraordinary impact.”
