Phillips 66 Partners With The Big Event To Serve Aggieland
One-time $25,000 gift offsets cost to build and create community.
SAFELY SERVING - More than 10,000 volunteers completed about 1,400 outdoor service projects in small groups, allowing Aggies to serve their community while keeping themselves and others safe. Photos by Olivia Garza '24, Division of Student Affairs.
By Veronica Gonzalez Hoff, Division of Student Affairs
After a forced hiatus due to COVID-19, The Big Event on March 27 was met with an enthusiastic volunteer response. More than 10,000 volunteers completed more than 1,400 outdoor service projects in small groups, allowing Aggies to serve their community while keeping themselves and others safe. Phillips 66, this year’s title sponsor, along with many other notable donors and businesses, was a huge support in helping make this year’s safe return to service possible.
Community outreach and development is a focus for Phillips 66, so the company approached the Texas A&M Foundation about The Big Event in January 2020. “At Phillips 66, we believe actions speak louder than words and that through volunteerism, we can create community connections that inspire action, identify solutions to society’s greatest challenges and improve lives,” said Claudia Kreisle, social impact manager for Phillips 66. “That’s why we’re proud to support The Big Event at Texas A&M and encourage students to share their passions and talents to help build a thriving community.”
The $25,000 gift offsets the cost and expenses of hosting The Big Event. Annette Forst, senior director of corporate relations at the Texas A&M Foundation, hopes to see the partnership between Phillips 66 at Texas A&M University continue. “Phillips 66 prides itself in giving back to the communities through grants aligned with education and literacy, the environment and sustainability, and community safety and preparedness. The Big Event encompasses those areas,” Forst said.
After collaborating with the cities of Bryan and College Station, the Brazos County Health District, and the Texas A&M University COVID-19 Task Force, the nation’s largest student-run service project was given the green light to host one of Texas A&M’s most meaningful traditions. The event adhered to all national, state, and local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure that the safety of residents, students, and staff members was a top priority.
Volunteering During COVID-19
This year, students were given the opportunity to serve in-person or virtually. For those serving in-person, all work was performed outdoors, with group sizes kept to 10 or fewer with appropriate face coverings. In past years, thousands of students picked up their tools at a large kick-off event held at one location on the Texas A&M campus. This year, tool distribution was scheduled at various times during the week leading up to The Big Event to ensure safety.
Those participating virtually were able to serve in ways like virtually visiting with assisted living residents and reading to young children.
Committee and executive members of The Big Event have been at work since this past fall, coordinating plans and implementing new strategies to take this year by the reins and make it a Big Event to remember.
“We are thrilled to be able to execute this event in the midst of a pandemic that still allows hundreds of Bryan and College Station residents to be served by our students while using safe event and physical distancing protocols,” said Kristin Guzak ’21, director of The Big Event. “Times like these are when communities most need to come together, and it’s thrilling that the Big Event allows us to safely be there for each other - whether we’re providing a helping hand, an ear to listen, or a heart to empathize.”
For more information on financially partnering with The Big Event, email Reagan Chessher '96. For more information on The Big Event visit its website or follow the student organization on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.