Success Stories
Round Rock ISD wins $6K ChangeMakers grant
ChangeMakers, the young grantmaker’s council of the Greater Round Rock Community Foundation, have awarded a $6,000 grant to the Round Rock ISD Learn and Serve Program. Grant funds will be used to support classroom projects that focus on recycling and environmental stewardship. Through a “service-learning” approach, students and teachers will be able to research the issues, develop a plan and take action to protect the environment. The grant will also help students grasp important science concepts.
“For grades K-5, a focus of the new state science standards is on the use and conservation of resources and recycling, so we see this grant helping our students to take action and apply what they are learning,” Jean Martin, Elementary Science Lead Curriculum Specialist said.
The ChangeMakers program focuses on giving the power of philanthropy to young people to allow teenagers to become valuable contributors now, as well as essential leaders for the future. The program responds to students’ need to belong and be a part of a peer group engaged in socially constructive activities.
Roughly 126 volunteers tallied 1,280 hours in the 2009-2010 school year, the second year of the ChangeMakers program. The program is sponsored solely by Wells Fargo, which donates $10,000 to the ChangeMakers annually to be used as grant money to be distributed by the students to volunteer and service-based programs aimed at youth.
“The kids are amazing-they fully embrace the responsibility they’ve been given and have become passionate, engaged philanthropists,” said Kami Barron, Executive Director of Greater Round Rock Community Foundation.
The ChangeMakers youth began last year by surveying their peers to determine the most pressing issues affecting Round Rock youth. The results identified recycling as the issue they felt they could most affect. In addition to engaging in hands-on projects during the past school year, the ChangeMakers voted to grant funds towards youth-driven projects during 2010-11.
“Receiving a grant is always great news, but it is doubly exciting when that investment comes from young people,” Mike Hurewitz, Service-Learning Coordinator, said. “It is a strong affirmation of the importance of putting young people in charge and empowering them to tackle tough issues!”