PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – A group of students at Franklin Institute in Palm Beach Gardens are proving that age has no limits on what you can do.
They raised $4,581 to help families affected by Hurricane Ian on Florida’s west coast.
“We pretty much talk about how we can help the community and how we can make an impact,” says Ethan Mott, 8,order International Baccalaureate Ambassador class.
At Franklin Academy, a 25-student leadership program called International Baccalaureate Ambassadors, or IB Ambassadors, is in charge of creating school-wide service initiatives.
“I definitely feel that before I became an IB Ambassador, I didn’t really think much about putting in the effort to help others or doing something that might not be right for me and what it would affect. It’s different but now that I’m an IB Ambassador, I’ve definitely done more,” said 8-year-old Cecilia Renzulli.order Level IB Ambassador. “We are like leaders and we have to set a good example for everyone.”
The IB Ambassadors were recently elected and are planning their service project as Hurricane Ian impacts Florida’s west coast.
That’s when an idea was born to create a “dress up” day where students who donate $5 can go to school in casual clothes instead of uniforms that will be collected and used for aid. .
Kindergarten through 8th grade students participated and contributed to the cause. Several families sponsored entire classrooms to decorate, raising $4,851.
“I wear jeans and a shirt,” says Breanna Hanza, 8,order Level IB Ambassador. “We thought we’d raise at least $2,000 but we’ve raised more than that.”
“It’s amazing what we can do to help people,” 8order Ambassador Anisa Maharaj Class IB. “It’s an extraordinary feeling because you’re helping them and at the same time other people feel happy by dressing loosely for the day or because they’re helping people.”
The IB Ambassadors did their research and decided the money would go to the nonprofit Convoy of Hope.
They have traveled through the southwest and on the ground in the Fort Myers area since last Friday, providing relief to 11 communities, including Cape Coral, Pine Island Centre, Bokeelia, Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Bradenton , Estero, Venice, Naples and North Fort Myers.
To date, Convoy of Hope has reportedly distributed more than 350,000 pounds of relief goods, including food, water, ice, hygiene kits, baby supplies, oilcloths, etc., and has served over 20,000 People.
“I feel like it changed me but it also changed the people around this amazing group of people because they influence each other and everyone influences people outside of the IB ambassador,” says Mott. .
This is part of the school’s initiative to focus on character development for students as well as academics.
All students are required to undertake one service project each quarter.
“It’s focused on the whole child. We’re not just academically focused, while it’s rigorous, we’re more focused on character building and what that means and what roles they play. in the world and how they can absorb what they learn,” said Leah Hanza, IB, PYP and MYP Program Coordinator at Franklin Academy Charter School.
Hanza said students will present Convoy of Hope early next week, totaling checks for $5,000. In addition to the $4,581 donated by the student initiative, $200 was donated by the two girls, and Hanza said she will make up the difference to bring the total to $5,000.
“Ask them to think about other people and put others first and really focus on the concept of empathy and what looks like the kind of thing that creates a movement,” says Hanza. “What ended up happening was that these students really struggled with um being selfish. It had them really evolved and it’s great to see how they want to serve others and they do things without being asked to be. requests and respect just come naturally and as such it’s great to see something we haven’t seen in years.”
Hanza said because the Convoy of Hope is located in the Midwest, they will not be able to present the check in person but will do so through Zoom.
