Over 100 students, alumni and friends of the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center stopped by Chipotle on September 2nd for HOPE’s inaugural fundraiser of the year. The line snaked around the restaurant as Chipotle staff watched the crowd grow in support of HOPE summer fellowships.
Students were able to spend time getting to know each other while eating for a good cause, as alumni grabbed orders to go for their families, knowing that 50% of all proceeds from the fundraiser directly benefitted public interest fellowships.
The HOPE Summer Fellows Program provides students the opportunity to pursue their public interest dream jobs around the world. Students in the Summer Public Interest Fellows Program serve local public interest agencies while taking a social justice seminar. Both programs are designed to fund students who would otherwise be volunteering their time to serve those most in need in our community and beyond.
“I was thrilled at the turnout. It was a wonderful way to start off the school year, while bringing in much-needed funding to our program,” said Marni Lennon, Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Pro Bono. “It is our goal to support every qualified applicant for summer public interest fellowships.”
Last year, fifteen HOPE Fellows served across the United States, working in agencies including the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, New York Legal Aid, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Project, the ACLU and several other public sector organizations. The Summer Public Interest Fellows were placed in local agencies including, Miami-Dade Office of the Public Defender, Miami-Dade County School Board, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Dade County Legal Aid, and Catholic Charities Legal Services.
“It was great to get out and spend time with the other students. We had a chance to meet upper-division students while contributing to the Fellows Program,” said 1L Miami Scholar Joshua Mandel.
