Lead4Change Honors Student Teams Leading Change in Local Communities
Students developed leadership skills and addressed issues such as food insecurity, kindness and supplies, and activities during the pandemic
NEWARK, Del., March 16, 2021 – Today, 31 middle school and high school teams have been selected as winners of the Lead4Change Challenge. The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program teaches students leadership lessons that include skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration. Students work to develop a service project that addresses a need in their community using these skills. The top six teams each earned a $10,000 grant for a nonprofit of their choice.
Lead4Change is the nation’s fastest-growing privately funded student leadership program. More than 1.8 million students across all 50 states have had the opportunity to grow as leaders through Lead4Change’s free curriculum. The lessons align to educational standards, including Literacy, Social-Emotional Learning, and Project-Based Learning.
Grant awards are made to winners among Lead4Change Certified Schools, recognizing multi-year participation in the program, and non-certified schools.
The two grand prize recipient teams from Certified Schools are:
• Mohave High School, “FCCLA Leaders in the Hat” FCCLA ECE team, Bullhead City, Arizona – We knew we had to do something for our tiny T-Birds to expand their literacy skills while they were not in the classroom. Through our project, we collected 1,126 donated books, that we are using to send home with families during times of quarantine, and donating to our local boys and girls club organization to help distribute to families in need around the community.
• Eastern Lebanon County High School, “Holiday Heroes”, Myerstown, Pennsylvania – Our project focused on bringing in customers to small local businesses, as well as providing underprivileged children under 12 living in the Eastern Lebanon County School District with toys before the holidays. Our slogan was “Your extra is someone’s need.” We exceeded our goal by bringing in 374 toys. All of our planned businesses agreed to participate. The community generously supported our toy drive.
A Special Award and $1,000 grant for Summer Service Leadership was made to:
• Port Chester Middle School, “PC Hunger Fighters”, Port Chester, New York – We partnered with Caritas of Port Chester to host a Free Farmers Market for seniors and families in need. More than 1000 pounds of food was donated by local farmers and we were able to provide food for over 340 families. Our work was approved and supported by the Town Officials to comply with COVID protocols. Students were inspired by their summer work and have since started other fundraisers, used new leadership skills to run for Student Council, entered an essay contest to highlight food insecurity issues, and realized the sacrifices of their parents during these difficult times.
The four grand prize recipient teams from non-certified schools are:
• Plantation Middle School, “Plantation Patriots: Motivational Monday”, Plantation, Florida - This project is designed to encourage students and teachers to spread kind words through video messages on Mondays because Mondays can be stressful. Motivational Mondays show everyone we care, we respect each other and we communicate kindness to reinforce positive values as well as respect each other in a comfortable academic environment for all. “Kindness begins within, so let it shine on Mondays!” Our project was organized and keeps going because we formed the Student Kindness Patrol.
• Community Navigators, “Christmas Stars”, Garner, North Carolina – Our big goal was to bring the community together to enjoy drive-in movies during the Christmas season. We want our community to stay connected and be able to safely enjoy outside activities. Our movie nights included food trucks and other concessions. Organizing these events without being able to meet in person was a challenge, and we were excited to make it all happen!
• Fife High School, “Trojan Heart 2020”, Fife, Washington - The issue being addressed in this project is the high population of homelessness in the Pierce County area. Our project, Trojan Heart. is aimed specifically towards helping the hygiene of the people that don’t have the same opportunities as we do. We do so by hosting a hygiene drive within our community and then creating care package bags to distribute to the homeless. Organizing a community service project during a global pandemic caused us to make many adjustments and accommodations. This year we were able to collect 9,205 donation items, 205 care packages, and $855 dollars.
• Parent-led Team, “The Changemakers”, Aliso Viejo, California - Our team’s project vision is to find a solution for the at-risk adolescents at Casa Youth shelter to build relationships, trust and camaraderie with their fellow peers who live at the shelter. Today, technology has limited much face-to-face interaction. Our project is to provide Casa Youth Shelter a cart with various board games and activities where the teens can connect on a personal and social level by communicating, sharing ideas, and having fun at the same time.
The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program is also awarding $500 charitable grants based on the outstanding works of the following teams:
• Odessa High School, “Frontline Flatbread Frenzy” FBLA team, Odessa, WA
• Brownstown Central High School, “Wearing Awareness team”, Brownstown, IN • Grassfield High School, “The Bear Necessities” FBLA and Business Education team, Chesapeake, VA
• Bushland High School, “Difference Makers” FCCLA team, Bushland, TX
• Basha High School, “Sock-tober” FCCLA team, Chandler, AZ
• Avon Grove High School, “#AGE” FBLA and Business Education team, West Grove, PA • Fleetwood Area High School, “Fleetwood’s Finest” and “The Animal Kingdom” FBLA teams, Fleetwood, PA
• Maywood Public Schools, “Maywood Community Service” team, Maywood, NJ • Lakeview Jr. Sr. High School, “Diffuse Abuse” and “Our Change” FBLA teams, Columbus, NE • Rockbridge Co High School, “Lightning Strikers” team, Lexington, VA
• Gwynedd Mercy Academy, “Working Women Wardrobe” team, Lower Gwynedd, PA • Lebanon Technology and Career Center, “FBLA – Cope Baby Shower” team, Lebanon, MO • Stone Hill Middle School, “Corona Virus Curers” and “Rise for Equality” teams, Ashburn, VA • John W Hubert Middle School, “The Hubert Hornet Savers” FCCLA team, Savannah, GA • Community Navigators, “The Givers” team, Garner, NC
• Montwood High School, “One Goal One Home” Student Council team, El Paso, TX • Goodrich ISD, “The Innovators” and “The Delete Team” Gifted Education teams, Goodrich, TX • RCHS, “Golden Thermometers” FCCLA team, Riverview, MI
• West Central High School, “West Central Chapter” FCCLA team, Hartford, SD • West Central Valley High School, “Next Level Foods” team, Stuart, IA
The Lead4Change program is inspired by the Founder & CEO of David Novak Leadership, Co-Founder, retired Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands and leadership expert, David Novak, and developed by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning and the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation.
Despite being forced to attend school virtually due to the pandemic, students rose above the challenges and applied the leadership skills learned through the Lead4Change program to work as a team and address real needs in their communities" said David Novak. “We hope this experience sparks a passion in students and helps them see their ability to positively impact the world even during these historic times.”
“Each year I am amazed at the growth and sense of purpose that these projects create in both students and teachers who participate in the program,” said Diane Barrett, Executive Director of the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning. “The impact that these projects have on our broader communities cannot be understated.”
Complete rules and details on the Lead4Change Challenge are available at http://www.lead4change.org/ To watch the action, get involved, and learn more, follow Lead4Change:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lead4Changeorg/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lead4Changeorg
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lead4changeorg/
About Lead4Change
The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program was created by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning and the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation to encourage middle and high school students to hone leadership skills by completing a service project around a community need involving a public nonprofit.
About Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning
The Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning was established in 2003 as a public charity. The Foundation supports and builds alliances that enhance innovative, instructional programs and community outreach by providing the resources to promote new opportunities and participation. FILL is a supporting foundation for the International Literacy Association. The foundation welcomes participation in efforts to engage, enlighten and inspire today’s students and educators by opening their classrooms to the real world. Find out more at www.fillprograms.org.
About Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation
The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation was established in 1999 by David and Wendy Novak. The mission of the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation is to lead the way with innovative programs that help people in need and develop future leaders. The Foundation focuses on creative partnerships that make a lasting impact in the primary areas of hunger relief, early childhood education, juvenile diabetes, military family support, and leadership development. Since Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation began, it has helped thousands of people in need through grants and programming support. For more information on Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation, go to www.liftalifefoundation.org.
Contact:
Jessica Chen
G&S for Lead4Change
917.595.3055
jchen@gscommunications.com
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