Homeward Bound announced that Summit School wins this year’s “Mighty Heart Award” for collecting the most diapers per student of all participating schools in Arizona!
Homeward Bound, Arizona’s largest provider of transitional housing, is expressing its gratitude by scheduling a day for the Phoenix Suns Gorilla to visit Summit’s preschool through eighth grade students, and by giving a $1,000 to the school!
And what do Summit’s student council and its adviser Melissa France, who spearhead the annual drive, plan to do with the money? Pay it forward of course, by increasing Summit’s donations to Homeward Bound’s Diaper Drive and Thanksgiving Basket drive for 2014!
“I am so proud of our students and our community!” exclaims France. “Thank you Summit, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your help and support. Together we are helping our students learn the importance of giving back!”
This is the second time that Summit School has led Homeward Bound’s annual drive. In 2011they collected 20,493 diapers – more than any Arizona school.
“Melissa and Summit School have provided over 200,000 diapers, which helped our clients and been shared with other non-profit organizations across the valley,” shares Vicki Piña, Homeward Bound’s Special Projects Manager. “Melissa is a wonderful and caring woman that we love and appreciate.”
Beyond the obvious benefit of the donations, is the impact on the future leaders of our community, our children. Each year France takes her student council to Homeward Bound to tour and see firsthand how their projects impact kids and families. Eileen Rogers, Founder of the Annual Baby Diaper Drive, believes that this type of involvement “allows students to develop their creative and leadership skills, ultimately creating empathetic and amazing future adults who will be good citizens in our communities.”
Earlier this year, the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce named Melissa France the Educational Mentor of the Year, in part due to her leadership with the Summit student council and their ten year support of Homeward Bound.
Homeward Bound is a nationally recognized model of success. The 12 to 24 month program provides transitional housing and comprehensive services to assist families achieve economic independence, secure long-term, safe, decent, affordable housing and break multi-generational cycles of homelessness, welfare dependence and domestic violence. To learn how you can help: http://www.homewardboundaz.org/
Great Schools
Facebook
Google