CGI University Gets Involved: Microscholarships, Hens For Haiti, WaterWheels, And More

How many students does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent lightbulb? Tony Anderson, Morehouse College '08, can answer that.

Together with college friend Marcus Penny, they founded Retrofit A Million (LRAM) for the purpose of capturing and replacing 1 million incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs in homes in low-income neighborhoods. So far, 1,000 student volunteers from several universities have screwed in 40,000 bulbs.

The bonus is that these student volunteers have also installed water-efficiency devices, including shower heads, low-flow toilets, and bathroom and kitchen sink aerators. "Having spent just over $78,000, LRAM has achieved over $7 million in energy and water savings," Anderson said in an interview. "That's an 89:1 return on investment."

Anderson launched LRAM with the award that he received at the first annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), led by President Clinton in 2008. Each year at CGI U, college students from around the world compete in presenting practical solutions to address global challenges. This weekend, CGI U convenes its fifth annual event bringing together 1,000 students from 250 schools from around the world. 

Here are a few more of the 3,000 commitments to action made by students, universities, and youth groups.

Matt Severson conceived his project during a trip to Tanzania when he completed high school in 2007. It was then that Severson met elementary school student John Medo (pictured above, with Severson), whose lifetime aspiration to become president was limited by the prohibitive expense of $150 for high-school tuition. Severson's encounter with Medo inspired him to think bigger than merely helping the one young Tanzanian student.

While attending Brown University in 2009, Severson and his friends Roxana Moussavian and Andrew Perrault established The School Fund. They leveraged their 2011 CGI U award to raise more than $100,000 from nearly 750 individuals to fund high school education, supplies, and uniforms for 353 school years for 213 students. Now that Severson and his friends have graduated and are working in full-time jobs, The School Fund continues to be staffed primarily by 33 student volunteers from several universities.

With corporate and foundation grants funding The School Fund's limited expenses, all online contributions go entirely toward student tuition and supplies. Check out The School Fund to see just how easy and fun it is to contribute. You'll see photos of the students, their interests, aspirations, favorite books, and profiles. The students interact with donors and with each other. The School Fund is now scaling via partnerships with organizations in the key communities where The School Fund is most active.

The exuberance conveyed by these CGI U alumni in their interviews and emails with me was absolutely infectious. I encourage you to check out these great websites and consider how you might participate.

For example, companies and college teams can find out more here about engaging in Retrofit A Million's five-hour bulb installation projects. Additionally, since 60% of the organization's funding goes toward lightbulbs, companies seeking to make product contributions can get in touch as well. "If we can do this with such few resources, imagine how much more is possible," said Anderson. "We've got the model. Replacing a million lightbulbs is well within reach."