Volunteer Illini Projects, the University's largest student-run organization, is celebrating its 40th anniversary Saturday — a day the state of Illinois has christened "Volunteer Illini Projects Day."

The group, which VIP president Laura Brayton said includes about 2,300 students, will host a reception for current members and alumni at the Illini Union at 1 p.m.

Brayton, junior in LAS, said the event will feature guest speakers like Gaylord Hatch, VIP's first advisor, as well as poster and memorabilia displays.

"Anybody is more than welcome to stop by and learn more about VIP," she said.

At 3 p.m., the reception guests will break into four groups and spend the rest of the afternoon working on service projects.

Junior in LAS Laura Miller, chair of the organization's environmental project group, said some of the students and alumni will be working to restore Urbana's Meadowbrook prairie after the reception. Miller said the volunteers will collect seeds and replant them in the prairie rather than letting them be carried away by the wind.

VIP is currently involved in 15 ongoing projects and is "busier than ever," Brayton said.

One such project has students visiting nursing home residents three nights a week, said Caroline Manley, sophomore in LAS, project coordinator. The volunteers host activities for the residents like bingo and arts and crafts.

"I've had such an awesome time with it," Manley said. "You know (the residents) are waiting for you and they expect you to be there and it's great."

Manley added that the group hosts a "senior citizen prom" for the residents of the Florida House retirement community in Urbana.

"Last year we had a ridiculous amount of students," she said. "We just had everyone come in and then they got some food and then we all played bingo, of course."

Rita Strakovsky, junior in LAS, leads a project group that tutors local junior high and high school students. She said they assist nine local programs and schools, including Urbana High School and Central High School in Champaign.

Strakovsky said the group attracts more than just education majors.

"Some of the people just love working with kids and it's something they like to do in their spare time," she said.

Kathy Guthrie, director of the Office of Volunteer Programs, said the University's service community is very strong.

"The level of commitment among the students here is amazing," Guthrie said. "They really have hit all the needs of the community."