Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude, a major national 501 (c)(3) non-profit, seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm’s way, to their children left behind, and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in Transition Units. Project Goodness students have helped raise awareness, funds and supplies for Operation Gratitude through PG Giving Projects (including: Halloween Candy Drive, School-wide Toothbrush & Toothpaste Drive, Holiday Greeting and Thank You Card Campaign, wrote and performed original Thank You song to troops (which was syndicated through Operation Gratitude’s YouTube Channel).
Operation Smile
Operation Smile provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children. Project Goodness students learned that every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places these children are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can’t afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a normal life. Our students worked together to create a school-wide fundraiser where “Smiley Grams” (little greeting cards created to make others smile) were made and sold across the school and local community. PG Students raised enough funds for a surgery for a child to receive the Operation Smile surgery he/she needed.
Heifer International
Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. With gifts of livestock and training, Heifer empowers families to turn their lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope; helping to improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. Project Goodness students participated in a “Read to Feed” program where family, friends and the community at large sponsored students for each book they read. The children raised enough funds to donate a goat to four families and a flock of ducks to another.
Africa Schools of Kenya
Africa Schools of Kenya (ASK) is an educational organization designed to increase awareness for Kenyan children on critical global issues such as healthy living, environmental sustainability, animal & wildlife conservation, and cultural diversity. Project Goodness students have researched and learned about life and Kenya and the need for education in the poverty-ridden areas. PG students made and sold their own “Beads For Change” and raised enough funds to provide a year of school to a 5th Grade Student in Africa, Loinkaree, and helped build a classroom in his school.
Project Night Night
Project Night Night donates over 25,000 Night Night Packages each year, free of charge, to
homeless children who need our childhood essentials to feel secure, cozy, ready to learn, and
significant. Each Night Night Package contains a new security blanket, an age-appropriate
children’s book, and a stuffed animal — all nestled inside of a new canvas tote bag. By providing
objects of reliable comfort, Project Night Night reduces trauma and advances the emotional and
cognitive well-being of the children we serve. Project Goodness students created a school-wide drive called “Sweeter Dreams,” where students of all ages donated books, stuffed animals, and blankets for children in need. PG students also raised funds and donated to Project Night Night to help their cause.