The holiday season and New Year are times for charitable wishes and giving back. In 2012, the young women of the Betty K. Marler Center gave back from Denver to Connecticut and beyond as they knitted blankets and hats for the homeless, assisted disabled veterans,and sent heartfelt words to those grieving the loss of a loved one in Newtown, CT.

For the young women at the Marler Center, understanding the impact of their actions on others is an important part of community service. The young women recognized how changing one person's life can actually affect many people. This ripple effect, they learned, can be positive or negative and can begin with something as simple as harmful words or a smile. Students recognized the difference they can make and expressed solidarity as they connected with their community and the nation.