DATE: March 23, 2006

CONTACT: Michael Crino, Clemson alumni professor of management, 864-656-3753 crino@clemson.edu

WRITER: Debbie Dalhouse, 864-656-6737 ddalhou@clemson.edu

i CARE PUTS THE “I” IN TEAM

CLEMSON – Contrary to what you may have heard, sometimes there really is an “i” in team. Clemson University ’s iCARE project is proof. This team effort won the prestigious InnoVision Technology Award for Community Service in 2005.

i CARE matches Clemson business students and leading-edge technology with Upstate communities to address real-world needs.

More than 25 community groups in the 10-county area have benefited from iCARE projects. Student accomplishments include creating a computer-training program for senior citizens, building a database to manage medications for at-risk youths, developing job descriptions for public libraries and providing an online clearinghouse for small-business resources.

“The judges were impressed with the innovative blend of community service and educational aspects of iCARE, as well as the collaborative nature of the program,” said Amy Robichaud, InnoVision advisory board chair.

The iCARE project grew out of Clemson’s public service mission to improve the quality of life and promote economic development in South Carolina . A small grant to Clemson business professors Michael Crino and Charles Duke produced an online database of business resources among Upstate universities, including Clemson, Lander, Presbyterian College and Southern Wesleyan: www.SCBizHelp.org.

That collaboration grew into the Alliance for Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations, one of Clemson’s Public Service Activities. An Alliance project, iCARE leverages technology with service-learning projects to meet the needs of Upstate communities and small businesses.

In the process, Clemson students gain real-world experience and — just as importantly — praise from the individuals they serve. Clemson faculty and students have the skills that nonprofit organizations need but cannot afford to hire: finance, business, database management, strategic planning and Web design. More than 350 students have participated in iCARE projects.

“One positive aspect of the Senior Solutions project was the kind words of appreciation we received from the senior citizens,” says Skylar (sic) Young, a senior computer science major and iCARE Student of the Year for 2005. “They really wanted to learn about computers and the Internet, and helping them was truly a joy. Because it presented many challenges I haven’t experienced in the classroom, it has prepared me for the real world more than any other project.”

Michael Crino, alumni professor in management, is proud of their accomplishments. “This is the best part of my professional career,” he says. “These student projects do real good for people with real needs. They also put pressure on our students to do professional quality work and to be accountable to clients.

“We work for the citizens of South Carolina , and we have an obligation to give something back. Our land-grant mission requires that we make people’s lives better.”

Because they matched those skills with community needs, two faculty members were named iCARE Professors of the Year for 2005. Ray Henry’s management classes developed a prescription medication tracking system for New Foundations Children and Family Services in Anderson . Charles Duke’s marketing classes provided marketing research for several community service groups.

END

The Alliance for Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations is a public service of Clemson University . For more news releases, please visit www.clemson.edu/psamedia/
 

ALLIANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS www.SCBizHelp.org/

The purpose of iCARE is to match the business expertise of students, faculty, and nonprofit staffs located in the Upstate to the needs of businesses and nonprofits. It is hoped that business owners and managers of both profit and nonprofit organizations will benefit from this web site.

-- Community Partners

Anderson County Library System

Greenville Library

Service Corps of Retired Executives

-- Clemson University Partners

Service Alliance

Small Business Development Center

S.C. Center for Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership

Faculty members in management, marketing and English

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SERVICE ALLIANCEwww.clemson.edu/servicealliance/

The Clemson University Service Alliance promotes both public and campus awareness of public service, community service, and service-learning efforts at Clemson University .

INNOVISION AWARDSwww.innovisionaward.org/

The InnoVision Technology Awards program, founded in 1999 by Deloitte & Touche of Greenville, honors achievements in innovation and technological excellence in the 10 Upsate S.C. counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union.

iCARE CLIENTS

-- Anderson County
Anderson County Library
Anderson Free Clinic
Cancer Association of Anderson
Hospice of the Upstate
New Foundations Children and Family Services
 
-- Anderson, Oconee, Pickens Counties
Anderson-Oconee Speech and Hearing Clinic
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Humane Society
Senior Solutions

-- Greenville County
Concerned Citizens for Animals
Greenville County Library

-- Oconee County
Blue Ridge Field at Code Elementary School
Foothills Conservancy for the Performing Arts
Oconee County Humane Society

-- Pickens County
Alliance for Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations
City of Clemson
Clemson University
Gunnin Architecture Library Print Facility
Littlejohn Community Center
SC Botanical Garden
SC Urban and Community Forestry Program