Fundraising and volunteerism are core curriculum at United Way Champion School Districts
Students in four Allegheny County school districts are identifying needs in their communities with the help of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania — and taking concrete and creative steps to address them. In recognition of students’ efforts, North Hills, Northgate, Gateway and Montour are the first ever United Way Champion School Districts.
Janice Sauers, United Way’s corporate engagement manager, led the initiative and worked closely with students to brainstorm ideas and understand the needs in each school community. Janice didn’t have to reinvent the wheel — students were already doing great work that could be used as a launching point for deeper community engagement.
“We asked ourselves: what if we came up with a program or initiative that builds on what schools are already doing, recognize these schools for their efforts, while engaging students and families across the districts with United Way’s work?” she said.
Janice coordinated with school administrators and met with student groups, introducing around 80 students to United Way’s work and presenting regional data from United Way’s PA-211 Southwest helpline. PA-211 tracks all contacts to the human services helpline, providing a snapshot into what issues are facing different neighborhoods.
“With the resources United Way has, we’re able to really drill down and identify the greatest needs in the district. Once these students see and understand what is needed in their communities, they start brainstorming about how they can help,” Janice said.
To earn their district the Champion School District distinction, students must complete two volunteer-based and one fundraising task based on community needs and benefiting United Way. North Hills High School and Middle School students sold ice cream sandwiches for their fundraising project with the theme “Don’t be a grinch, buy a sweet treat.” Gateway students hosted “penny wars” at the district’s elementary schools and Northgate students organized a dodgeball tournament and “pie a teacher” fundraiser.
Montour High School Principal Todd Price said Janice encouraged students to develop a project with a strong community connection that all three Montour District schools could participate in.
A committee of 21 Montour high school and middle school students organized a community clothing drive that culminated in a free shopping day event in the high school cafeteria. Students set up collection points at the high school, middle school and elementary school to collect clothes. The students used social media, posters and email outreach to drive donations.
Dr. Jason Burik, principal at David E. Williams Middle School, said his students created flyers for the clothing drive and advertised the event to middle school families and on the school’s morning news program.
“Our students really enjoyed working with Montour High School students on this worthwhile project,” he said.
During the free shopping day, families were able to shop for free or make a suggested $5 donation to support United Way’s work.
“We had so many donations – I couldn’t believe it,” Todd Price said.
“It’s exciting when you can scale something up to that level and it has such a positive impact.”
Janice said it was “so rewarding” to work with the kids and see them put their creativity and empathy to use helping others.
She recalled how one woman pulled her aside during the free shopping day and thanked her for inspiring the kids to organize the event. “They may not even realize the impact,” she told Janice, “But families are struggling, and I hope they continue to do this every year.”