Saturday, May 9, 2009

SWOS Generation Impact awards



Last night was the grants presentation ceremony for Generation Impact and what a proud evening it was!

Generation Impact is a group of SW Open School students, working with math teacher Colin Biard, who have formed a philanthropy group, originally under the auspices of El Pomar, but now on their own with El Pomar funding. In this third year, the students have developed their own mission statement, put on fundraising activities and solicited grant applications from nonprofits. The students developed their own criteria for reviewing the applications and they then awarded service hours as well as money, sometimes a combination of both. Over the last three years, their grants have totaled more than $27,000 and more than 900 hours!

At the end of the ceremony, the GI students mobbed Colin with a group hug. 

The keynote address was given by Matt Kefauver, Cortez city councilman, teacher and businessman. Matt gave a moving account of his own experiences in learning about giving time and money in support of things he believed in. It was very on target; I hope to get a copy of his remarks.

Another of the reasons I appreciate the opportunity to be associated with SWOS! tv

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