Middleton Students Use Senior Class Funds to Fight Local Poverty
NBC 15 - Madison WI
Reporter: Michelle Riell
Email Address: mriell@nbc15.com
APRIL 17, 2009 - The number of homeless students at Middleton High
School has grown to 81. And this year, District-wide in Middleton -
Cross Plains, the homeless rate has more than doubled. And as NBC 15's
Michelle Riell reports, the Middleton High School Class of 2009 saw
that need and is using its year-end class funds to help.
Sean Jackson, Co-President of the Senior Class says,
"Traditionally, each class at MHS accumulates a set amount of funds
through the sale of Homecoming tickets, Prom tickets and various other
fund raisers like bake sales or the like and then that money will go
towards a senior class gift." Co-President of the Senior Class Steve
Ticknor adds, "In the past they've bought water bottles or donated a
sign to the high school. This year we wanted to help the community out
and help those in need. So we decided to donate all 11,000 to MOM,
Middleton Outreach Ministries."
It took some research and persuasion to get fellow students on
board, but the co-student council presidents finally gained enough
support.
David Miller with Middleton Outreach Ministries says, "We
think it's just fantastic that these kids have decided to do this. It's
really an inspiration to the community that young people have taken on
the responsibility of doing something good for the community."
M.O.M. is a community supported organization which relies on
donations and food drives to help provide nearly 30,000 services a year
to people in need. Miller says, "It helps provide for some of the
things we need to buy here at the food pantry and also supports a lot
of our other programs that really make an impact in the community."
But these students aren't stopping at one donation. They're
asking the community to get involved in their change the world
challenge. Ticknor says, " We want to throw the challenge out to the
community, to schools and businesses. We want to get them all to find a
local charity, wherever they are to donate to it to fight poverty."
The students gave a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce and
have already raised nearly $20,000 in additional donations. It's a
legacy they hope to leave behind after graduation. Jackson says, "When
it comes down to it, we could pay for a water bottle that says 2009 on
it and look back in 10 years and say, I've got this water bottle. Or we
can spend that money to help our neighbor in need, because there are a
lot of people out there who truly need our help."
The Change The World Challenge is going on through graduation day on June seventh. If you'd like to donate, log onto www.changetheworldchallenge.com