University of Redlands Community Service Learning

The retired CEO of SynerMed, James Mason now dedicates himself to serving the community through volunteer work and support of multiple charities, nonprofit organizations, and educational groups. Among other institutions, former SynerMed CEO James Mason has been a longtime supporter of the University of Redlands. 

A private, independent liberal arts university in California, the University of Redlands prepares students to become conscientious, informed, and engaged citizens through a rigorous academic curriculum and a unique blend of liberal arts, professional programs, and both traditional and self-designed majors. The university also maintains a community service learning (CSL) initiative that helps student learn while assisting others.

Now more than 25 years old, the CSL program has been recognized by institutions around the country as an innovative and effective model that helps students develop leadership qualities, engage with academic theory in practice, and build real-world skills while serving the community. The University of Redlands supports CSL by coordinating partnerships between students, faculty, local agencies, and nonprofit organizations. 

Each year, Redlands students volunteer more than 120,000 hours of their time in the local community and around the world as part of the CSL initiative. Students have undertaken community-based projects ranging from founding youth mentorship programs to hosting fundraisers for disaster relief and helping communities build housing in Mexico.

The St. Francis Center Los Angeles Summer Camp Initiative

James Mason is a longtime health care executive and the former CEO of SynerMed. Since leaving SynerMed, he has pursued his passion for helping others as a volunteer, financial supporter, and board member for numerous charitable and nonprofit organizations in Southern California. Among these, James Mason serves as a board member of St. Francis Center Los Angeles.

Founded in 1972 by Father Hugh Noonan, a Franciscan friar in Santa Barbara County, St. Francis Center has grown into one of the most important social services organizations in the Los Angeles area. In addition to operating soup kitchens and food pantries, it coordinates well-being programs for families and homeless individuals. The organization also runs an annual youth summer camp initiative.

Each year, St. Francis Center sends approximately 100 boys and girls from underserved communities to a local overnight summer camp through partnerships with local groups. Currently, St. Francis partners with Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles to send 60 youths to Camp Bob Waldorf and 40 younger children to Camp Whittle. 

St. Francis Center covers all financial and logistical aspects of the initiative, including paying camp fees, supplying appropriate clothing, providing camp supplies, and coordinating transportation to and from the camp.