Compassion and Empathy are core values that are stressed in the Success Program.  We are very proud of students...in and out of the classroom. Here are some of the amazing philanthropic activities they have organized....


In 2006, students in the Success Program donated their own money over the course of several months.  Their efforts led to the creation of the first annual Student Choice Scholarship.  The students were able to award four scholarships of $500 each!!!!  Recipients were anonymously selected by a group of their peers.  The is the first time a scholarship was created, fundraised and selected by the students themselves. Great job to all students who donated money and to the selection committee!!!


Tragically, the mother of two of our students passed away during the winter break. She was single mother of two wonderful students in our Success Program.  Our students took it upon themselves to raise money for the two student and a younger sibling.  In only a few weeks, our students raised over $2,000 in money and gift certificates to help this family during a very difficult time.  The efforts of the students and the response from the recipents was reported in an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769259864

In 2005, as part of our character education curriculum, all of our students watched a documentary called "My Flesh and Blood".  This was an amazing look into the lives of an incredible mother and her 11 adopted children, all of whom suffer from a severe disabliity.  Our students took it upon themselves to fundraise over $2,000 to help with the financial costs of the Tom family featured in the documentary.  Students also purchased, wrapped, and shipped presents for all of the Tom children to enjoy at Christmas.


In 2004, as part of our curriculum on the local "Poor Man's Philanthropist", Thomas Cannon, our students decided to demonstrate their own philanthropy.  Typically, Mr. Cannon would give checks of $1,000 to individuals he often read about in the newspaper. However, our students thought it was time to return the favor, and they donated their own money to give to Mr. Cannon.  During an assembly to honor Mr. Cannon, Success students awarded a check for almost $800 to Mr. Cannon.



Thomas Cannon surprised the students by announcing that he would add his own money to raise the amount to $1,000, then give the $1,000 back to the Success Program.  Mr. Cannon gave the students the unique opportunity to select a worthy recipient of a gift of $1,000.  A committee of Success students was created in order to establish the criteria for selecting the recepient.  The committee traveled to the Richmond Outreach Center to deliver the gift of a $1,000 check to a foster home called The House of Timothy.  The Thomas Cannon committee was featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch and the monthly VEA magazine.
http://www.veaweteach.org/search_results_detail.asp?ContentID=1671