Washington, D.C. (Sunday, March 23, 2025) – Howard University students are stepping up in a big way to provide service and hope during challenging times. They are preparing to head into more than 22 U.S. cities next Saturday for their 31st Annual Alternative Spring Break (ASB), a program where 1,300 Howard students will put in 150,000 hours of volunteer service at schools, community centers, and non-profit agencies. The effort got a big boost Sunday thanks to the generosity of WHUR listeners who donated more than $45,000 during the station’s Annual Helping Hands Radiothon.
The 12-hour fundraiser was held at the studios of WHUR, right on the campus of Howard University from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. WHUR radio personalities Winston Chaney, Jacquie Gayles Webb, Anthony Brown, and DJ Iran were joined by Newscasters Bremante Bryant, Renee Nash, and Harold Fisher calling on their listeners to support ASB by donating on-line or stopping by the radio station to drop off a cash, check, or credit card donation.
More than 400 listeners heeded the call making the Howard University student mission to go into cities like Baltimore, Trenton, New Orleans, Nashville, and right here in the Washington area possible.
“It feels good to know that we still have community members who are willing to support our students as they serve in those 22 communities,” said Joseph Dillard Assistant Dean of Community Engagement and Outreach in the Office of the Dean of the Chapel. The Howard University Chapel has operated Alternative Spring Break for 31 years. “As I told the students, the work that they are doing is significant and important not just us, but to people all around the world. So the funds that we raised today ensure that all 1,300 students are able to go on ASB at no cost to them or their families.”
Monies raised from the Helping Hands Radiothon will go to offset the costs of students volunteering. Costs include transportation, meals, and lodging. ASB 2025 is March 1st thru March 8th. More than 26 busloads of students will head out Saturday volunteering more than 150-thousand hours mentoring and tutoring youngsters. They will also rebuild and help to restore neighborhoods around the country and right here in the DMV.
