SXU Students Build World's Largest Diaper Tower

CHICAGO, IL --- Marist High School wasn’t the only record-setter in Mt. Greenwood this month. Saint Xavier University students amassed the world’s largest disposable diaper tower as part of its weeklong homecoming celebration earlier this month.

The university partnered with Southwest Diaper Depository for Little Ends, or SWADDLE, for its 2016 homecoming service project to set a record for the largest diaper tower. The previous record included only 5,280 diapers and was set in Germany in 2007.

SXU, along with local high school and junior high school students helped build a tower made up of 10,820 nappies. The final dimensions of the diaper tower measured 72 inches wide by 76 inches deep and 68 inches tall.

Also on hand were the Class of 2017 St. Rita of Cascia High School Student Government officers, including Josh Blaszak, Sean Macander, Joey Henze, Bobby Gikas, Nick Durham, Tim Zaleski and Connor Kelly. The young men presented a check of $1,227 for diaper donations to SWADDLE founder Carol Bradtke and Kathy Rogers.

One in three American families struggle to provide diapers for their children and SWADDLE helps to bridge the gap for babies of parents living below the poverty level to have a chance to be dry, happy and healthy. At the event, local school students, SXU students, alumni and volunteers created diaper packages that will go to numerous social service agencies, such as Catholic Charities, Easter Seals, Respond Now, PASS Pregnancy Centers and the COURAGE Program.