Being a young leader means being an example in more ways than one. Not only is it important to give of your money, but also of your time and talents. In line with our focus on Education and with the 40 Developmental Assets every student needs to become a successful adult, the Young Leaders Club Steering Committee piloted an Adopt-a-Student program at McKinley Elementary School, adopting 60 students. (Click here to check out some of the media coverage!)
We all remember what is was like to be young and have peer pressure - to look your best, to have the latest gadgets, etc. But not everyone has had the experience of being impoverished - of not having enough to buy lunch, necessary school supplies, or even having your uniform also be your play clothes.
Thanks to sponsorship from Erie Insurance, Knox Law Firm and Steering Committee members, and establishing a partnership with Wal-Mart, enough money was raised to purchase each student a uniform (a polo shirt and a pair of pants) and a comprehensive school supplies homework kit that included a calculator and age-appropriate dictionary.
The "adoption" doesn't stop there. In addition, Steering Committee members will write notes of encouragement throughout the year and will culminate the program with a special event at the end of April: a personal visit from the BayHawks.
We hope that by doing all of the above, we help build the capacity of these young students to become successful community members. After all, while we are "Young Leaders," they are our FUTURE LEADERS. All they need is our helping hand . Think of how you would have felt if this was you. Hopefully, you would have felt SPECIAL and more EMPOWERED, knowing there was someone, somewhere out there, rooting for you.
We want to continue this program every year and even expand it to adopt more grades, so that eventually, the entire school is adopted. But we'll need more sponsors and partners to do so! EMAIL ME if you and/or your place of business are interested.
It's up to us folks...let's make it happen!!!