The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) announces 15 Service Learning Mini-Grants to 6 school districts for the 2018 – 2019 school year. These grants, totaling $6,978, include projects that are artistic, service-oriented, and community inspired. Highlighted are three awards that are unique to this year’s program.
Criminal Justice - Honor Guard. Erie 2 BOCES-LoGuidice Educational Center students will present honor guard or ceremonial guard by participating in "community policing" such as at services for fallen police officers and first responders. Students will also present ceremonial guard for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. They will allow for "guardians of the colors" by displaying and escorting our national flag at events (i.e., Bill's games). Through their service, the students will gain real-life experience in preparation for their careers in criminal justice.
Veterans Project. Westfield Middle School students will set up, serve, and clean up at the 2019 Veteran's Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast. Students will also assist in a cleanup of the cemetery and will place flags on Veterans’ graves, all before Memorial Day. Students will learn about Westfield and Chautauqua County Veterans as well as their service to the country.
Sensory Walk. Dunkirk High School Jr. ROTC students will make improvements to the Sensory Walk first constructed 15 years ago at Camp Gross. Improvements would include upgrading rope guides and some of the blocks and adding more posts and one or two benches for a sitting area. Through the project, students will learn about the local environment and geography while reinforcing their leadership skills.
Additional programs approved for the 2018 – 2019 school year include Brocton Central School –Empty Bowls Project, CDOS Helps Special Olympics, and Read and Craft; Erie 2 BOCES-LoGuidice Educational Center – Big Buddy, Little Buddy; Cassadaga Valley High School - "Key"ping the Service in Schools; Dunkirk City Schools – Robots are Fun! and Steel Drum Music Outreach; Fredonia Central School – Canvas and Cans, Service Rocks, Crafty Card Creations, Custom Pens for Active U.S. Military, and Make it, Shake it, Take it, Mini Maker Faire.
The Service Learning Mini-Grant program began in 2013 with a Pilot Program in the Fredonia Central School District. Since 2013, the NCCF has awarded over 90 mini-grants totaling over $40,000. Program funding comes from Community Funds and the yearly Applebee’s Flapjack Breakfast and Basket Raffle Fundraiser. The Service Learning program is open to all northern Chautauqua County middle and high school teachers.
Contact NCCF for more information on the NCCF Service Learning Mini-Grant Program at nccf@nccfoundation.org or 716-366-4892. More information is also available on the website at www.nccfoundation.org/service-learning.
The NCCF, incorporated in 1986, is a tax-exempt charitable organization. Since its establishment, the NCCF has distributed more than $14 million in the community through its various grant programs. It is an organization inherently committed to enriching the northern Chautauqua community and encouraging local philanthropy. For more information on the NCCF, visit www.nccfoundation.org or call 716-366-4892.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Fredonia Central School students’ 2016-17 Custom Pens for Active US Military project.