August 12, 2025
More than 60 St. John’s University volunteers gathered on Sunday, August 10 to help sustain an iconic New York State beachfront, implementing the late Pope Francis’ call to safeguard the environment.
St. John’s alumni, faculty members, administrators, staff, and their families took part in clean-up efforts at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, NY, sifting through the beachfront to find and dispose of debris that can threaten the park’s ecosystem and create hazards for beachgoers.
Wearing their St. John’s red, the volunteers arrived at Field 4 at 10 a.m. After several hours of service, they enjoyed a day at the beach—swimming, playing beach games, and socializing. The event was sponsored by St. John’s Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD), assisted by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
“Alumni community service events are essential for building connections and giving back,” said Gianna Flora ’23TCB ’24MBA, co-chair of GOLD, who was among the 42 alumni volunteers. “Coming together as St. John’s graduates to help preserve a New York landmark such as Jones Beach strengthens our bond and amplifies our impact. We are always stronger together.”
More than eight million patrons visit Jones Beach yearly, second only in attendance to Niagara Falls among New York state parks. Jones Beach is among the most-visited beaches in the Northeast, with more than six miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
Regular cleanups help rid the oceans of debris that can entangle sea turtles, birds, and fish or that they can mistake for food, leading to injury or death. The St. John’s volunteers were taught to identify the types of marine debris that regularly wash ashore at Jones Beach and learned how to report the data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other government agencies.
The volunteer work was done in the spirit of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato si'. In it, Pope Francis calls on Catholics to acknowledge the urgency of environmental challenges and work toward their resolution.
“I love the beach and clean New York beaches,” said Jo Ann Hernandez ’88SVC. “This was a chance to make a difference.”
“Events like these are good opportunities to stay in touch with St. John’s and to give back to the community at the same time,” added Juan David Arrieta ’23TCB and a GOLD leader.
The 42 alumni represented graduating classes from 1972 to 2025, and included 20 members of GOLD, who graduated between 2016 and 2025. They were joined by seven St. John’s faculty members, including five who are alumni, and 17 family and friends of alumni.
“Alumni participation in community service is a powerful way to live out the values of St. John’s, support local areas, and inspire current students,” said Sara Hunt Munoz, Ed.D., Senior Director, Alumni Engagement, Office of Alumni Relations. “I am thrilled that so many of our alumni took part. It demonstrates a continued commitment to giving back, and building pride, connection, and visibility for the alumni network.”
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