WHEELING, Oct. 5, 2009 — Three recent Wheeling Jesuit graduates are part of the largest class of Jesuit volunteers in the past five years.

The three alums have dedicated themselves to a year or more of simple living and working for social justice in a spiritually supportive community as they walk with people living in poverty or on the margins of society.

The JVC alumni and their assignments are:

Joseph Balbier ‘09, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County in Oakland, Cal.

Justin Brandt ‘09, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Bethel, Alaska. (Brandt serves in the JVC Northwest.)

Daniel Torma ‘08, YMCA International Services in Houston, Tex.

In July 2009, regional organizations known as JVC East, JVC Midwest, JVC South and JVC Southwest merged with the Jesuit Volunteers International to form one organization— Jesuit Volunteer Corps. This fall saw the JVCs welcome 293 volunteers to serve throughout the United States and in seven other countries around the world. With more than a 10 percent increase in volunteers serving in the United States this year, this means that the Jesuit volunteers will provide a greater level of support to local organizations stretched by the current economic climate.

JVC Northwest was the birthplace of the JVC program, which has spread throughout the world, having been established in Copper Valley, Alaska, in 1956. It continues as a separate organization, actively recruiting, placing and supporting men and women who are looking to live out the values of community, social justice, simple living, and spirituality. JVC Northwest volunteers serve in a wide variety of service placements in Alaska, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

“We’re excited these committed women and men are offering a year of their lives in service and working for the transformation of our world,” said Jeanne Haster, executive director for JVC Northwest, which welcomed 123 total JVCs this year.

“We know that Jesuit Volunteers allow local organizations to provide more services to the most vulnerable members of our society, so to be able to provide additional volunteers this year is exciting and important,” commented Kevin O’Brien, president of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. “And to know that the experience these volunteers have will transform their lives and way of looking at the world means that the impact will be felt for years to come. It continues to be inspiring to me and to all those who work with Jesuit Volunteers.”

JVCs teach students of all ages, provide legal services, work with refugees and immigrants, serve with social services and at community centers, organize in low-income communities and care for people with HIV/AIDS.