Outreach Tulane: Los Angeles alumni keep the spirit of service alive

The Tulane Club of Los Angeles has transformed the spirit of Outreach Tulane into a lasting alumni tradition. Building on the university’s hallmark day of service for undergraduate students, the club now organizes volunteer opportunities year-round, proving that Tulanians’ commitment to giving back doesn’t end at graduation.

This fall, two signature service days are at the heart of the club’s calendar: a November Family Day of Service with the Assistance League of Los Angeles and a December 6 environmental restoration event with TreePeople.

For the club’s lead board member, Sarah Wallace Schwartz (B ’05), placing service events on the club’s calendar has been important to building connections among Tulane alums in the area.

“There’s something about volunteering where you’re doing shoulder-to-shoulder work, and … you’re part of a greater cause. So, the connection is more natural, and you’re seeing a part of this person’s heart.”

Because Los Angeles can feel spread out, the club offers events across the city, including signature events like Mardi Gras and crawfish boils, as well as football watch parties, book clubs and service days, to ensure everyone can find their niche. Schwartz, who grew up volunteering with the Assistance League, helped launch the community service arm of the club.

Board member Luke Hudelson (SLA ’15) helped launch the club’s upcoming partnership with TreePeople. He initially hoped to lead a project to restore hiking trails damaged by January’s wildfires, but the area remains unsafe. Instead, volunteers will focus on vital restoration work to support the region’s recovery.

“There’s a lot of general work being done in the mountains … to restore the natural habitat in general, like planting trees, watering them and other work to make sure the natural environment is in a good state, especially given the past droughts.”

Community service committee member Shannon Reider (SSE ’09) said Tulane volunteers are known for their dedication.

“Everywhere we go, they tell us Tulane alumni are their best volunteers,” she said, explaining that the group accomplishes much more than the organization expected in the time given. “They were like, ‘we had to keep giving you more, because you all were so dedicated.’ You can tell it’s people who love to serve.”

She said that Tulane’s service-learning culture, which emphasizes connecting academic study with hands-on community impact, stays with graduates. “Tulane people are really connected and altruistic,” she said. “We learned how to serve in a meaningful way.”

According to Greg Kovacs, the CEO of the Assistance League of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles alumni club has been a valued partner since 2023. The Assistance League helps local youth experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or growing up below the poverty line. Tulane volunteers have supported family-day events, such as “Prom Day,” “Blast Off with Books,” “Sweet Dreams & Cozy Nights” and “School Supplies for Success,” with eight to 15 alumni attending each event. Together, they’ve helped organize book donations, assemble school supply kits, create cozy no-sew blankets and collect new toys and stuffed animals for children across Los Angeles.

“The Tulane Club of Los Angeles reliably brings a strong volunteer team to Prom Day and every Family Day of Service, which directly strengthens our ability to serve more than 22,000 youth each year,” Kovacs said.

If you’re interested in joining an Outreach Tulane alumni event near you, click here.