Day of Service Shows that Carlson Cares

On March 28, students from the Carlson School of Management came together for Carlson Cares, a day dedicated to community service. Sixteen student organizations teamed up to organize volunteer activities, and more than 300 students participated. The event brought together undergraduate and graduate students to make a positive impact on the community.

The event was organized by Niko Vasilopoulous, ’25 BSB, and Jack Bellinger, ’28 BSB. 

“I wanted to serve the community around me and show that the Carlson School is a force for good,” said Bellinger. “Carlson Cares was a great and easy way to get involved in community service and help those in need.”

Garrison Kiefer, ‘25 MBA, led Carlson 4 Community in offering a LinkedIn and resume workshop with Lake Street Works, helping high school students get ready to apply for jobs. 

“Being part of a school that values community impact beyond the classroom is a big reason why many of us were drawn to the Carlson School in the first place,” he said. “Using our time, skills, and energy to serve others is part of what makes the Carlson School and the broader Twin Cities community such a special place to live, learn, and lead.”

Alex Torreson, ’25 BSB, organized a Letters of Love event for Student Marketing Association. Students wrote letters to kids who are being treated at Children’s Minnesota.

“It was so much fun to picture the smiles on kids' faces as we wrote and drew simple but heartfelt messages,” he said.

Torreson’s favorite moment of the day showed off the collaborative spirit of the event. BBoard brought tie-blanket supplies into the room where they were already writing letters, and the two worked side-by-side. Later, the Business Association of Multicultural Students had booked the room to assemble snack packs, and the three events continued side-by-side.

“Since so many clubs were leading service initiatives throughout the day, students who attended one would shift to the next once it started, or wrap up one project while the room began another. This led to an incredibly fun environment where the entire building was sharing in the experience of service,” said Vasilopoulos.

Events continued throughout the day, both on and off-site. The impact was significant—more than 70,000 meals were packed for Feed My Starving Children, thousands of pounds of food were sorted at Second Harvest Heartland, and donations of clothing, personal care items, and household goods were collected for those in need. Students also made blankets and pillows for children’s hospitals, wrote heartfelt letters to nursing home residents and veterans, and helped clean up trash around campus.

Through these initiatives, Carlson School students demonstrated their commitment to service and leadership, strengthening connections with the community while making a tangible difference. The organizers hope that this will become an annual event, and continue to grow in impact.