Bee the Difference Month
Bee the Difference Month invites all members of the St. Ambrose community - students, staff, faculty and alumni - to live out one of the institution's core values: service. Building on our Catholic foundation, people of all faiths and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in daily prayer or silent meditation and embrace our institutional calling to give back to the communities in which we live. Visit this page for daily prayer reflections, service opportunities and stories that highlight the lasting impact of the Ambrosian mission to bee the difference - not just this month but every day of the year. Bee the Difference Month activities include:
Bee the Difference Day: On Sunday, November 5, more than 600 students, faculty, staff and alumni will be seen raking leaves for campus neighbors, packing meals for Kids Against Hunger, cleaning up local parks and engaging in a variety of service projects. The 16th Annual Bee the Difference Day will kick off our month-long initiative and represents our collective commitment as a diocesan institution to be in, with and for our community.
30 Days of Prayer and Service: Beginning on November 6 through December 7, students, faculty and staff will provide daily prayers to encourage reflection and gratitude during the upcoming season of thanksgiving. Campus Ministry has organized a list of service opportunities for students inspired by the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching, and the SAU Alumni Board will host events locally and nationally for the alumni community. The form to log those service hours can be found here.
Giving Tuesday: On November 28, join in the global movement to give, collaborate and celebrate radical generosity. Whether you give of your time, talents or treasures, this annual #GivingTuesday commitment to doing good has the power to change our communities for the better.
Feast of St. Ambrose: Bee the Difference Month will conclude on December 7 with a campus-wide celebration of our patron saint. Students, faculty and staff will enjoy homemade breads, fresh honey (go bees!) and soup to honor Saint Ambrose of Milan and what it means to be Ambrosian. We'll conclude the festivities with Mass in Christ the King Chapel at 4:30 pm.
30 Days of Service
At SAU, service is not just something we do - it's who we are at our core. Our students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteer thousands of hours that translate into real change in the communities in which we live and learn. Key categories of service opportunities available to the campus throughout Bee the Difference Month, inspired by the seven themes of Catholic Social Teachings, include:
- Community: opportunities to build a stronger St. Ambrose, Davenport, Quad Cities and beyond!
- Creation: opportunities to care for plants, animals and our environment.
- Life: opportunities to provide food, clothing and shelter, the essentials we all need to survive.
- Solidarity: opportunities to stand by and support those who are marginalized and oppressed.
- Youth: opportunities to support at-risk youth.
All members of the campus community are encouraged to participate in the 30 days of prayer and service. Here's how students, faculty and staff can get involved:
- Join a team and participate in Bee the Difference Day
- Commit to reading the daily prayer reflections or spending a few moments of silence reflecting on life's blessings
- For ideas about service projects, check out this list of local non-profit organizations that can provide volunteer opportunities near campus
- Track your impact! Report all service hours completed November 6 through December 7 by completing this survey
Don't forget to share photos of your events and service on social media using #BeeTheDifferenceMonth!
30 Days of Prayer
The St. Ambrose community is called to join together in daily prayer throughout Bee the Difference Month. Reflections will be written by President Amy Novak, students, faculty and staff throughout the month to keep our focus and faith front of mind.