Many people are hard-pressed to take time out of their busy schedules to help a friend or colleague in need, let alone a stranger. Most sympathize and wish they had the time to lend a hand, but school, work and other obligations often rule out the possibility.
Enter James Introcaso, a class of '08 alumnus, Zach Wiseley, a Rutgers alumnus, and Tim Urian, a Drexel alumnus, three childhood friends who have made it their mission to prove that the spirit of humanitarianism is alive and well.
These three are the brains and driving force behind the "Good Works Tour," a journey across the country with the aim of hailing the unsung heroes who dedicate their time to volunteering for worthy causes.
The three friends drive across the country, doing good deeds along the way and making a documentary about the experience.
However, as their Web site says, "they don't want to just observe ... At every site they visit, they will get their hands dirty volunteering, as well as actively pursue random acts of kindness while on the road."
"It's easy to complain about the world but it is another thing entirely to get up and do something about it," Introcaso said.
"We decided we should take a trip with the purpose of helping people. Blowing into town and solving a problem for someone before moving onto the next - like the Lone Ranger or something. It would be a real adventure," he said.
According to Urian, "I was really excited to get back to doing volunteer work. It seemed that during high school there was a chance to help your community out every other day, but once I got to college everything really took a back burner to schoolwork, plays, etc. I think everyone should go on a Good Works Tour . It's given me a way to see what people all around the country are like, a chance to determine what is really important in my life."
In addition to traveling all over the country in a minivan (the tour motto is "Three guys. Two months. One van") and arranging to help in soup kitchens, animal shelters, Habitat for Humanity and other programs, the guys are also filming their progress in the hope of making it into a documentary.
They are currently looking for a distributor and ask all College students to spread the word.
"Pass the word on to (your) friends, family and Oprah. Seriously, Oprah," Introcaso said.
The three young graduates feel very passionately about the documentary, hoping its message of selflessness will inspire its viewers.
"If we documented it through film and showed people how easy it is to help a neighbor, friend, family member or your community, the world would be a much better place," Introcaso said.
"Imagine, if you will, someone says, 'Every day I will make a conscious effort to do one kind act for one person.' The world would be a lot better. I thought instead of preaching and telling, the best way to do it is to lead by example. If I can go to Salinas, Calif., and help out at a soup kitchen, someone at (the College) can certainly go visit the Habitat for Humanity office, or even just help someone pick up their books when they drop them all over the floor of Forcina Hall," Introcaso added.
Since the tour is not yet complete, they are still in the stages of stockpiling footage for the final documentary, which they hope will be shown at festivals and venues, including the College.
Compiled footage, their documentary proposal, a place to donate to the causes they've discovered and more specific information about the Good Works Tour and its mission can be found at their Web site, goodworkstour.com.
"I hope that this will inspire people at (the College) to get active and passionate about something," Introcaso said.
"Get out there and put a smile on someone's face. Our school has been living on its own little island far too long," Introcaso said.
He said, "(Our goal is to) make the community understand we have the power to change and make a difference for at least one person, everyday."
