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Established in 2008, The Public Education Foundation initiated a new service-learning and volunteerism project to help teens discover that they can make a positive difference in their community by providing them with a unique perspective. We R Community catapults high school students into the world of philanthropy and nonprofit organizations by transforming the teens into donors. The program introduces students to the importance of leadership, service, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector by giving them the ability to fund programs they choose. How We R Community Works Participating classes are provided $5,000 each for the year-long program. The students spend seven to nine months operating a “mini-foundation” by creating a mission statement, researching nonprofit organizations, reviewing grant applications, funding grants and generally incorporating this program into classroom learning and their daily lives. The $5,000 grant money comes from generous community and corporate sponsors and is to be used for programs that inspire change and encourage potential in education, the promotion of healthy families, access to the arts or environmental enhancement. The students are empowered, as they identify and address the critical community needs that matter most to them. These organizations submit proposals outlining how they will use the funds. After much research and work, students select the recipients and host a grant award celebration where checks are given to the selected nonprofits. As part of the program, students must also volunteer two to four hours each month with a nonprofit organization. We R Community allows teens to experience all sides of community service. Four valley high schools participated in the inaugural We R Community program during the 2008-09 school year. Basic, Green Valley, Palo Verde and Valley High Schools were the first to embrace the concept. Those schools awarded grants worth a total of $20,000 to several local nonprofit organizations and in-school clubs, including Three Square, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, The Rape Crisis Center, Street Teens, Olive Crest, HopeLink, Boys Town Nevada, Basic High’s Best Co./Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Palo Verde’s FBLA and DECA club, Valley High’s Project Hope and Green Valley High’s drug education program. Even in these difficult economic times, community support has been strong and continues to build. We have more than doubled the number of schools from four schools during our pilot period last year to nine schools this year. For more information on getting your school or organization involved or on becoming a sponsor and adopting a school, please contact us at 702-799-1042. Special Thanks |
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