The University of Miami has a strong tradition of community service with the first "official" volunteer efforts at UM dating back to the 1960s with a group called SUMMON (Students of the University of Miami Move On Need). The Volunteer Services Center was founded in the summer of 1989 under the direction of Dr. William Butler, Vice President for Student Affairs at that time. The office was renamed the "William R. Butler Volunteer Services Center" in 1997 when Dr. Butler retired after 32 years of service. Later, the graduating class of 1971 created an endowment in honor of Dr. Butler to support the programs and initiatives of the office. In 2006, the Center assumed responsibility for leadership programs and student life assessment, creating the William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service & Leadership Development.
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