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ANNUAL REPORT

2020

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OUR CLUBSLa Follette High SchoolBridgewater CollegeEast High SchoolNorthglenn High SchoolMadison West High SchoolDubuque Senior HighHempstead High SchoolUniversity of Central FloridaDunnellon High SchoolOlympia High SchoolPlymouth State UniversitySTRIVE Prep SchoolsRollins CollegeJames Madison Memorial High SchoolStetson UniversitySSF College Summit

15

SCHOOLS, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL, WITH 186 TOTAL MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN:

Grantmaking

Volunteering

Fundraising

Emergency COVID-19 Relief

Professional development

Community Engagement

And more!

La Follette High School

Madison, WI

President Mina L.
Founded 2008

La Follette’s areas of funding, Student Belonging, Learning, and Equity, reflect their school’s diverse student population.

La Follette SSF championed an initiative to provide coats to students who recently immigrated to Wisconsin. Winter in Wisconsin is no joke, and students who moved from warmer climates are often caught unprepared for the colder months. This grant lives up to their mission of celebrating diversity and ensuring all students feel at home year-round.

This year, La Follette SSF’s fundraisers doubled as a way of spreading community cheer. Members sold candy and decorative envelopes to students in staff in their first fundraiser, called “Wintergrams.” Participants wrote a personalized message to another person at the school, and the envelopes were delivered before winter break. For the second fundraiser, called “Singing Valentines,” SSF members recruited members of the school’s chorus to perform songs to students on Valentine’s Day.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary as an SSF chapter, La Follette was awarded a “Dream Big Grant”. Students were challenged to think of a transformational gift that would profoundly impact their community. Using a $25,000 gift from MFF, the club worked with school principals, the booster club, and building services on a two-year project to transform the school’s signage. The updated signs are not only more attractive, they increase visibility of the school from the road, allow for multiple languages to be displayed for non-English speakers, and are a point of pride for La Follette.

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA

President Kameron K.
Founded 2015

Bridgewater College SSF focuses on student emergencies, whether related to transportation, the ability to take certain courses, or health and well-being. The club supported multiple community-based projects during the school year.

On the right, Bridgewater SSF members volunteered for their local Boys & Girls club. Members personally picked out and donated new toys and updated furniture for the facility during the holiday season.

The chapter’s annual “Students for Service” initiative is an effort to support school clubs and community outreach in ways that have long-term benefits. This year, the students chose to fund a community garden. The garden provided fresh, organic produce for the surrounding community throughout the year, and will continue to nourish minds and bodies in the long-term.

Bridgewater SSF raised over $300 in the fall from their annual parking spot raffle for students and faculty. In the spring semester, they used the remaining funds to support students affected by COVID-19. The club budgeted efficiently to disperse funds to as many students as possible.

When Bridgewater College hosted a relief fund for its students, the SSF chapter provided emergency grants to students alongside the college’s own funding, contributing to a larger support system for students and faculty.

We learned the most difficult experiences are ones where we realize that as much as we would like to, we can’t help everyone within the definition of our own standards; we’re confined to the realities that we are only provided so much to give and that we must do our best with what we are given.

- Bridgewater SSF student

East High School

Madison, WI

President Rowan C.
Founded 2012

This year, East High School SSF chapter invested in their school’s behavioral support organization. The organization advocates for rehabilitation and other more progressive approaches to disciplining, instead of the traditional suspension. The chapter supported other clubs at the school, such as the school’s Success Team, which they funded for a fall semester finals study session. This allowed students to study with peers in a supportive and safe environment. Additionally, they fulfilled a grant request from the school’s DECA club.

The chapter held various fundraising events throughout the school year and participated in the school’s bratfest. Plans to partner with the school’s greenhouse for a plant sale were put on hold due to COVID-19. 

Northglenn High School

Northglenn, CO

President Daniela F.
Founded 2012

In the 2019-2020 school year, the Northglenn High School SSF club funded GO STEM, a national program that facilitates conferences for middle school girls.

Each year, the conferences offer girls the chance to connect with industry professionals in STEM research. Over 100 middle schoolers and 80 women in STEM careers attended this year’s conference. Northglenn High School SSF further supported education, one of their main areas of funding, by providing a grant to a Northglenn economics teacher to purchase new books.

Additionally, the group used 3D printing technology to create and distribute magnets for fundraising purposes, and to create PPE to distribute to police officers, firefighters, doctors, and nurses working in the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.

The chapter invested in a second focus area, the environment, by providing their school’s Environmental Club with a grant to help purchase reusable silicone straws. The idea behind the straws was to provide one to each student in order to reduce the use of plastic straws.

Since the Environmental Club did not provide a plan for changing student behavior beyond distributing the straws, the SSF club only granted partial funding. While they supported the initiative, club members were thoughtful in ensuring their funds were spent in the most effective way possible.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the chapter came together to support each other’s mental and physical health from afar, and continued to bond as a team by supporting their community.

As students who constantly live in the world of Problem Based Learning, we have learned that there is always a way to turn barriers into obstacles, and obstacles were meant to be overcome… The opportunities that arose were a chance to connect with each other when we were feeling down and frustrated.

A chance to reflect on our year and how incredible it was. And a chance to find ways to support our front-line workers using our tech skills and our school’s technology.

- Northglenn High School SSF Club Members

Madison West High School

Madison, WI

Senior Co-President Lil W.
Junior Co-President Annabelle T.
Founded 2007

The Madison West SSF chapter’s funding focuses include enrichment experiences to accentuate academic learning, equalizing access to academic resources, and encouraging access to experiences beyond the classroom. This year, the club provided a $1,000 grant to their school’s “We Are One” dance to foster connections across racial and ethnic lines. Organized by the school’s West Black Student Union and West Familia Latina, the event’s goal is to showcase different cultures, celebrate students of color, and display unity within the school.

For the last 15 months, the Madison West SSF chapter has collaborated with two other school clubs to renovate the school’s food pantry, renaming it the “West Wellness Pantry.” The coalition of students coordinated between school social workers, janitorial staff, and administration to fundraise for the pantry and their “Thanksgiving Basket” project. In total, Madison West SSF received over $400 worth of produce and funds.

This year, the chapter began producing content through a newly managed Instagram account. The club’s “Media Maven” posted member spotlights and artistic posts on the platform throughout the year. The club’s venture into social media has noticeably increased SSF exposure in the Madison West community.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Madison West SSF donated their emergency relief funds to Madison West High Area Collaborative.

Dubuque Senior High

Dubuque, IA

Founded 2019

For their fundraiser this year, the Dubuque Senior SSF chapter collaborated with the Hempstead SSF chapter to hold a charity night at a local Culver’s restaurant. At the event, SSF members set up tables and interacted with customers while raising funds and communicating the impact of their club. Additionally, the SSF group at Hempstead High School raised money at their “Feed the Need” luncheon during which SSF students served soup to community members.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, both of the Dubuque chapters provided groceries to families in need. Club members wrote positive messages and placed them in each grocery bundle before they were sent off to recipients.

Last, but not least, the Dubuque school SSFs supplied their school’s COVID-19 emergency fund with additional support. The funds helped secure mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for families without internet.

The impact of this grant gives our students the opportunity to stay on track and complete their high school work so they are prepared for the next adventure in their lives.

- Dubuque SSF Club Members

Hempstead High School

Dubuque, IA

Founded 2019

Along with Dubuque Senior High School, Hempstead High School SSF chapter was brand new this school year. The group raised funds at their “Feed the Need” luncheon in partnership with another school club. The students served at a soup kitchen in the community for the event. They partnered with the Dubuque Senior High School SSF chapter for a charity night at a local Culver’s.

Like Dubuque Senior High School, Hempstead High School used their grants to provide groceries to families in need by working with a local grocery store where several club members work. Club members wrote positive messages and placed them in each grocery bundle before they were sent off to recipients.

Hempstead High School supplied their school’s COVID-19 emergency fund with additional support as well. The funds helped secure mobile Wifi hotspots for families without internet to help ensure seniors were able to complete their required coursework for graduation. Next year, Hempstead High School SSF plans to add a Media Maven position, speak at school assemblies, and increase knowledge of their work through features in the school newspaper.

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL

Co-Presidents Colin A. & Danielle G.
Founded 2016

In the fall semester, the University of Central Florida (UCF) SSF focused on increasing their chapter’s knowledge of organization recruitment, campaigning, and fundraising. They added a new donation link to their website, raised $446 through various LEAD Scholars Academy class fundraisers, and received a matching grant of $4,000.

This year, the chapter participated in the “Adopt-a-Pond” program. Organized by LEAD Scholars, Adopt-a-Pond is UCF’s effort to remove litter from local ponds and offer clubs the opportunity to volunteer in natural environments.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, they provided emergency financial grants to students. The funds helped students cover costs of utilities, rent, and medical care as many lost their jobs and income. In addition, this funding helped to purchase caps and gowns for graduation. UCF SSF decided to donate their relief funding to the university’s Student Care Services, which has extensive resources to make an even bigger impact.

Dunnellon High School

Dunnellon, FL

Co-Presidents Ally B. & Kendall N.
Founded 2015

The Dunnellon SSF chapter organized multiple fundraisers over the 2019-2020 school year. The club’s newly formed “Dollar Donut Days” ran from October to March, raising a total of $975. The club held its annual Pasta Dinner, which attracted 88 attendees and raised over $1,000.

Dunnellon SSF carried out “SSF Tickets for Testing,” a program that provides SAT and ACT tickets to students who can’t afford them otherwise. For this year’s volunteer project, Dunnellon SSF installed four brand new water stations in the high school.

Seeing the impact of COVID-19 on their school and community, Dunnellon SSF focused on making something good from the situation. The club donated their near-expired pantry contents to the local Church so that the community could immediately use them. The club then chose to use its COVID-19 relief funds to restock the pantry for the Fall 2020 semester.

The project was the largest ever attempted by our humble little chapter, and one that’s had the greatest impact on our school community.

We couldn’t believe the enormous number of compliments that we received from literally EVERYONE on our campus… Truly impactful in the most positive way and enormously gratifying to the membership.

- Dunnellon SSF Members

Olympia High School

Orlando, FL

President Rachel F.
Founding Club, Founded 2003

Olympia High School SSF focused on three areas of funding this school year: academics, sports, and the performing arts. Their goal is to help students with financial difficulties have the opportunity to be a part of the school’s community by participating in clubs and honor societies, purchasing equipment and uniforms for sports teams, and paying dues required for band, orchestra, and choir.

One notable grant the chapter provided this year was funding their school’s Debate Team. The Debate Team requested funds for a “TedEd Student Talks” event which welcomed students to give speeches on their interests, sparking discussion for all. The grant demonstrates the SSF chapter’s commitment to supporting fellow clubs. Beyond this event, Olympia SSF contributed to the “Baskets of Love” event, where members collected toiletry items and sent them to local shelters.

This year, the chapter raised money through a fall carwash fundraiser and club dues.

Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH

President Jared G.
Founded 2004

The Plymouth State University (PSU) SSF chapter raised $4,300 throughout multiple fundraising efforts. The club held their “Empty Bowls” project in the fall, where they sold handmade bowls to the PSU community at a luncheon.

The club partnered with local bakeries to host the “Depressed Cake Shop” which sold baked goods to raise awareness about mental health and SSF.

The chapter got creative with their fundraising efforts. They raised 2,400 meal swipes, valued at $24,000, via the annual “Swipe It Forward” initiative. The meal swipes are dispersed to students in need upon request.

In November, PSU SSF partnered with the Women’s Soccer Team and University Police to allow students to waive citations received on campus. Students were instead given the option to donate a select amount of food to SSF’s food pantry, fully stocking the shelves. That same semester, the SSF chapter opened a satellite food pantry in their university’s central building of activity. The room serves as a grab-and-go alternative to the club’s larger food pantry.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit their community, the PSU SSF quickly received almost 50 grant requests. In response to the immense need, the club raised their maximum grant request from $200 to $400 and was able to fund most grants.

STRIVE Prep Schools

Denver, CO

President Joel I.
Founded 2019

In their first year, the STRIVE Prep SSF club started the “SSF Welcome Wagon” initiative. SSF members paired with a transfer student to introduce them to various aspects of the school environment and academic opportunities. The purpose of the project is to provide transfer students with a welcoming school transition. The SSF chapter plans to carry out this project in the coming academic years.

SSF members raised money at their school’s Black History Month Food Fair and through a “Valentine’s Day Dollars for Donuts” fundraiser.

The STRIVE-Prep SSF supplied 27 families with grants during the COVID-19 crisis. The funds went towards necessities such as food and paying for rent and utility bills. During this period, the SSF chapter faced budgeting challenges and had to make difficult decisions on providing support to families. Those difficult decisions helped build the club’s ability to budget effectively and leave a lasting impact on the school’s awareness and effectiveness.

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL

President Ellie H. & Lily C.
Founded 2012

Rollins College SSF coordinated a fundraising event, “Penny Wars,” between their school’s major offices and departments. Each office held a mason jar that students and faculty could donate to; paper money resulted in “negative” points for the office, while coin money awarded them points.

This event fostered a layer of interactivity and friendly competition between offices. Furthermore, the rules encouraged competing offices to “sabotage” one another by placing paper money into each other’s respective jars. SSF awarded the winning office with a life-size engraved penny.

In total, SSF Rollins raised $473 during this academic year.

The SSF chapter executed two volunteer projects this year. In the fall, the club worked with their college’s Sustainability Program to maintain their on-campus food garden. Similarly, Rollins SSF helped maintain a food garden with a community partner, “Edible Education.” Both organizations enjoyed a meal together using produce from the garden.

Rollins SSF funded a grant to their Women’s Basketball Team. The sports group requested funds for a trip to Puerto Rico. The trip’s purpose was to offer sports players an opportunity for community building and allow the team to build a basketball court for a Puerto Rican basketball team. The SSF grant went towards supplies to make the court and to help fund the trip altogether.

Beyond fundraising and grant requests, Rollins SSF continues to offer students resources with their food pantry services. The club has developed several programs for the pantry, including pop-up pantries and mobile delivery, to expand its resources for easier student accessibility. Rollins SSF was fortunate to present at the “Impact Conference” in February, where they shared their achievements in maintaining a food pantry and philanthropy organization.

Rollins SSF continues to administer grants throughout Summer 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

James Madison Memorial High School

Madison, WI

President Kiara B.
Founded 2010

The James Madison SSF chapter identifies three main areas of funding: increased support for students, improving curriculum, and strengthening relationships. They supported these areas of funding through several grants. The school’s Student Services Department requested a grant for clothing and personal care items like deodorant, shampoo, soap, and bus passes for students. By supporting this grant, the SSF chapter was able to directly support their students at their school who have the greatest need. Members felt this was their most impactful grant this year. A different grant provided funding to another club at the school to help club members attend a state competition.

The James Madison SSF chapter raised $270 at their second-annual “Gratitude Grams” fundraiser. The club sold bags of candy to students which contained thank you notes. Students promoted the event before school and during lunch and raised prices by $1 from last year, helping them to raise even more money this year.

Stetson University

DeLand, FL

President Kennedy R.
Founded 2017

The Stetson University SSF club raised $1,044 this academic year through staff donations and tabling events.

Their chapter volunteered with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) to help Deland community members file taxes. Members of Stetson SSF interacted with others to alleviate stress related to filing taxes, and create an accessible working space for others.

When COVID-19 hit and impacted the student body, Stetson’s SSF chapter worked tirelessly to award grants through June 2020. Their efforts resulted in 11 separate grants awarded to international students who were barred from returning home to countries including Egypt, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Pakistan, and Taiwan. The grants ensured these stranded Stetson students could pay for food and rent.

Aside from COVID-19 relief grants, Stetson SSF approved another memorable grant for a student in need. A freshman student requested funds to travel home to see her mother, who at the time was diagnosed with breast cancer. The mother was the student’s only family member, as her father passed away a few years prior. The SSF chapter gave the student $250 to ensure them an air flight ticket.

When reading this application and approving the grant there was not a dry eye in the group. Being able to be the last line of hope for this student meant a ton to us.

- Stetson University SSF Members
ORLANDO
SSF College Summit

To unite the national SSF chapters, MFF invited participating colleges to send members of their club to a collaborative Summit. In November 2019, the convening took place in Orlando, FL. The event allowed students to network with their peers, focus their strategy for the year ahead, and build ideas with MFF staff and nonprofit partners.

The SSF Summit provided opportunities for students to engage in professional and leadership development. mindSpark Learning, an MFF nonprofit partner, facilitated activities for SSF members focused on community building and developing leadership skills. We were joined by nonprofit executives from various industries for a “speed dating” event in which students were able to have one-on-one conversations with leaders in the field to ask questions and make connections. Summit participants “walked the walk” by donating leftover food from each day to a nearby Salvation Army location.

The summit allowed us to get out into the community and do actual work instead of just talking about the work.

Students and MFF staff then took a break from educational activities to visit the Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando. Second Harvest distributes food to partner programs throughout Central Florida, such as food pantries, women’s shelters, senior centers, and more. In 2019, they distributed enough food for 76 million meals. In addition to touring the facility, SSF students volunteered their time and effort to prepare almost 7,000 meals for distribution.

In just two days, the Summit energized SSF members to dream big about what they can accomplish, and extract best practices from the successes and lessons of other clubs. For the MFF team, it represented a bold investment in the next generation of philanthropists and nonprofit leaders.

I think vocalizing our values, principles, and our mission to disrupt in our communities allowed me to map out the steps to achieving our goals. We know what we want to do, but this training helped me visualize our set path with clarity and creativity.