"My philanthropy project was called Collars and Scholars. For my philanthropy project, I brought 4th grade students to Pasco County Animal Services. At the shelter, I wanted to provide the students with an opportunity to practice their reading skills, and give the animals extra love and affection they don't receive on a daily basis. This experience taught me that teaching students doesn't have to be confined to a classroom. It's possible to learn in a unique environment!"

-Kierra Middleton

Address: Pasco Animal Services, 19640 Dogpatch Ln, Land O Lakes, FL 34638Hours: Closed ⋅ Opens 12PMPhone: (813) 929-1212

"In education, you always need research. Based on our classes, we always do research. People have donated the iPads and computers for us, but we didn't have enough room to put them and charge. So, to help our academy, I thought of getting a computer cart, and finding a place to plug them in. I really wanted to help the academy do this, because the academy has done so much for me. I wanted to repay it back with doing my philanthropy project: Charging For Education."

-Meghan Davis

Books By The Beach

"I wanted to impact student learning throughout the summer, so Bri Marney, Amanda Akin, and Kenneth Lanza-Pego and I created a project to encourage reading, safety, community involvement, and ice cream! Following the school day, 50 NTA students walked 70 Hudson Elementary students to Hudson Beach, collecting books along the way at 5 locations. Several area groups including Pasco Retired Educators, United Way Pasco, and On the Road for Safety, joined the NTA students to man tables and share smiles. Each stop was a book stop adventure. Along the path, the NTA students wrote questions about safety on the sidewalk, shared signs to encourage students to "read all summer," and created passport logs of their journey for the students. Each HES student received a backpack filled with summer reading, a day full of smiles and memories! 

-Raynee Meek

Partners included:

     Hudson Elementary School

     Healthy Families Pasco                               Port Hudson Marina                                   Inn on the Gulf

     Hudson Beach Ice Cream Parlor

"No Strings Attached" is a puppet production that joyfully teaches about inclusion. The cast of puppets represent the 13 exceptionalities protected by the Individuals with Disabilites Education Act (I.D.E.A) was made to help your average student (or teacher) better understand the effects of an exceptionality. I was inspired to pursue it by my years I spent in private school, observing those with significant exceptionalities having their needs attended to and understood. Everybody there was in the loop, and the students flourished for it. I figured I could try to bring that to the general public of education. 

"A lot of the process was spent writing, editing and practicing the script."

-Owen Rocks

"We reached out to Pepin, because Emma knew someone there. We had to go in the Friday before winter break, presenting a powerpoint to the administration about what our project was. We had struggled for a while to find somewhere to get clothes, until we had a conversation with Mrs. Meek, our school's vice principal. She informed us about Marjorie's Hope, getting us their contact info, and allowing us to get the clothes!" 

-Grace Collins

Marjorie's Hope

(727) 776-5458

marjorieshope.com

"We were actually offered the philanthropy project! Our purpose it to provide children and teen moms who struggle financially at home with food for over the weekend. We felt that it was unfair for children like us to be hungry at home, waiting a weekend for their next meal. We pack plastic bags every Thursday, and deliver them on Fridays. They are full of healthy food such as protein and dairy!"

-Alexis Schorden 

"It was something that has always been close to my heart, and having the opportunity to put the biggest smile on their faces meant the world. We went to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, and a group of us helped the sick patients make slime to take back to their rooms to play with! The kids loved being able to get their hands dirty and mix all different colors. My soul purpose was to allow a distraction for these children, taking their minds away from everything else going on just to have some fun! In particular, one little girl was in the lobby of the hospital, who was actually not sick, but was waiting for her sister to get out of surgery. Inviting her over to make some slime was the highlight of her day, as well as mine. Overall, I'm so glad, and proud of myself, for rolling this project out. Due to the life skills, it taught me and the smiles on their faces!"

-Gillian Webster