2024
Here we are—after 21 years and more than a million dollars distributed—feeling so much gratitude to the students and club sponsors who have made the program an integral part of their schools and communities across the country. While SSF has grown and adapted to the changing world, our core tenets and mission remain the same: to inspire and empower the next generation of great American philanthropists.
SSF is even more important today than it was when we began. Many more students at the high school and college level are experiencing financial stress and the mental health pressures that go along with that uncertainty. More students are working and are responsible for paying for more of their expenses. Some students are supporting families of their own. Some are going hungry or need books and study support. If SSF grants are able to lighten those burdens, even minimally, then the program is a success.
When SSF club members receive grant applications from their peers, they gain a better understanding of true need. When they are forced to evaluate many worthy causes but come up short on available funds, they learn to collaborate and practice skills such as negotiating, budgeting, and raising supplemental money. They learn compassion and also the heartbreak of having to say no. They grow stronger and more motivated with every decision they make.
We, too, continue to learn along the way. We are honored to share the successes of the past year, and pleased to commit to another year of funding the Student Support Foundation.
To all SSF members—past, present and future—Thank you for all you have done!
With gratitude,
Carrie and John Morgridge Co-founders
in grants distributed
directly invested into SSF communities since 2003
impacting
people
SCHOOLS, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL, WITH 192 TOTAL MEMBERS. HERE’S WHAT SOME STUDENTS SAID THEY LEARNED THIS YEAR:
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA
The Bridgewater College SSF chapter built on last year’s success, directing their funding towards services like personalized academic support, mental health resources, and accessible housing. They presented their data-driven insights and compelling anecdotes to the Office of the President, again securing a matching grant that allowed them to double their impact to meet their community’s needs.
A new grant to Gazan students was especially meaningful because it ensured that they had access to essential resources like food, housing, and education amidst a tumultuous and uncertain environment. This assistance not only alleviated immediate hardships, but also demonstrated solidarity and compassion towards those affected by the conflict in the Middle East.
On MLK Day, the club curated an engaging exhibit to honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exhibit garnered widespread appreciation and served as a catalyst for meaningful discussions on social justice and equality, and reinforced the college’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
SSF has taught me that philanthropy is not just a straight line. There are a lot of ethical decisions involved
Dubuque Senior High School
Dubuque, IA
Like their sister school, Hempstead High School, Dubuque High School has one of the largest chapters with 21 members. The group runs their school’s Giving Room—a classroom that has been converted into an open closet with clothes, personal hygiene items, bike locks, helmets, food, and school supplies. The closet is accessible to all students before and after school. And if a student wishes to stay anonymous, the SFF chapter collects supplies on the student’s behalf using only the student’s ID number for anonymity. The chapter also supplies the school’s bathrooms with feminine hygiene products.
Dubuque’s SSF grants were especially impactful on an individual level this year. When a teacher was unable to work for several weeks and couldn’t afford their rent, the group provided funding to ensure the teacher didn’t lose their housing. When a student experienced a house fire, SSF was able to replace the student’s damaged items, relieving some of the financial burden on the student’s family.
After graduation, I’ll still volunteer my time in causes that are important to me, because through SSF I’ve learned how powerful and fulfilling that can be.
Dunnellon High School
Dunnellon, FL
Dunnellon High School is situated in a small, rural community. With over 83% of students qualifying for free lunch, their budget is often stretched thin. This makes the SFF program critical to serving the needs of their students, teachers, and community. The chapter’s members consider the club to be the best club at DHS.
This year, SSF members created an area on campus called “Chill Space”—an outdoor space where students and faculty can take a break in an atmosphere of fresh air, flowering plants, and comfortable benches.
They continued their Wednesday $2 donut fundraiser with much success. Although the cost of goods has increased dramatically, they kept their price at $2 to ensure its affordability and goodwill of the program.
In their various grantmaking efforts, club members learned a lot about their impact and some new procedures that they’ll apply next year. After providing basic school necessities to a student with special needs who could not afford them, they were buoyed by the impact of their grant. And as they faced challenges with applications, they learned the importance of sticking to core values when making decisions.
Hempstead High School
Dubuque, IA
Like last year, Hempstead High School had the largest SSF chapter in 2023–24. They not only had a record-breaking 39 members, but they also added 21 new members across all grade levels—which is more new members than any other chapter. They learned from previous challenges in recruiting freshmen by having an informational table at their 8th grade open house, which helped bring in five new freshman members.
To strengthen student engagement and interest in coming to school, they dedicated part of their funding to clubs, sports, and other activities. They prioritized funding new clubs like Pickleball, Disc Golf, Spike Ball, and Family Career Community Leaders of America, which gave students the opportunity to try something new and, for some, join their first school-affiliated activity. From creating a new school-wide culture fair to providing new sets for their theater to funding the printing of their school newspaper, the impact of the chapter was felt by all.
They also prioritized serving their local community. Whether making Valentine Grams for seniors at Bethany Home, leading a Thanksgiving food drive, or becoming pen pals with a kindergarten class at a school in their district, members noted that it felt good to give back.
The chapter is already poised to make the best of next year by planning new strategy meetings to best use their resources and building up their Care Closet—a room with basic hygiene products and clothes for students in need.
My favorite memories are when we see the looks on our recipients’ faces after we tell them they got the grant they needed.
La Follette High School
Madison, WI
La Follette High School’s SSF chapter continued their work from last year, focusing on supporting the La Follette community, student learning, and equity. They held a successful fundraiser by partnering with a local pizzeria, and spent their volunteer day collecting trash from their school parking lot.
When their school hosted a field trip to a local farm, some students who recently moved to the U.S. were unable to afford the cost. The SFF chapter was able to fund the cost of the trip for those students. The grantees not only benefited from the learning experience of the trip, but they were able to feel a greater sense of belonging within their new community, forming important new relationships.
Equity and fairness are key. You need an unbiased opinion in order to serve your community, but to also make sure everyone gets what they need in order to thrive.
Madison West High School
Madison, WI
Madison West High School’s SFF chapter focused their efforts on serving and adequately reflecting the needs of their diverse student body both in and out of the classroom. Their school’s diversity is well-represented in their members whose dedication is reflected in their leadership. All members of the chapter have assumed a leadership role, including a new role for a social media manager to better engage their student body.
This year, they were able to fund the purchase of English reading materials for students whose first language is Spanish. They funded a health-based advocacy project in their health department, which positively impacted the school in terms of health as well as community building.
This SSF chapter worked with their local humane society to make beds for cats and dogs to donate to the many shelters in their local area. This work was an obvious benefit to their local shelters that struggle to afford supplies for their animals. By volunteering outside of their school, they were able to engage with their larger community and gain visibility to the work of their chapter.
SSF has taught about how much is done by small groups to serve a wider population. I’ve been very impressed by the way the club works to reach all members of the student body.
Mesa Community College
Mesa, Arizona
Mesa Community College’s SFF chapter has provided critical support for their college community. They granted many stipends for emergency financial assistance, covering everything from textbooks and school supplies to transportation and child-care expenses. Seeing the impact of their work, like granting rental assistance to a single mom at risk of losing housing, was especially motivating and led to an engaged and impactful year.
For their new program Harvest Baskets, they collected baskets with nonperishable food items and a $25 gift card donated by staff and faculty and distributed them to seventy families in need in their college community. They also worked with the nonprofit Feed My Starving Children, packing food for children struggling with hunger around the world. At the end of the year, they wrote letters of encouragement to MCC students who use their campus Mesa Market, which provides free food and hygiene products to students.
Their fundraising efforts were especially successful this year. They ran a concession stand at one of the college’s basketball games. The turnout was so great that the team’s coach encouraged them to return for their championship game. They ran another successful concession stand at the college’s Festival of the Arts. Through these efforts serving different demographics, they not only raised money, but also brought attention to the work of the chapter.
I like the purpose and value SSF holds on campus. It was the first time I heard of the word ‘philanthropy.’ I realized I had been practicing it my whole life.
Olympia High School
Orlando, FL
With the second-largest chapter in the 2023-24 school year, Olympia High School boasted 14 new members this year. The club focused their efforts on student engagement by supporting academics, athletics, and the arts.
This year, they volunteered at the school’s March Fresh market, which offers fresh produce for free to students and faculty in need. They were also able to provide a grant to the school’s Publications program, which funded the purchase of SD cards to document student activity throughout the year.
I joined SFF because I loved its philanthropic nature and helping my peers.
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH
Plymouth State University’s SFF chapter had an incredibly active year. They raised more than any other chapter, collecting over $8,000 through donations and fundraising. With over half of the student body reporting being food insecure, the club focused on combating food insecurity both on and off campus. They manage their campus Community Cupboard—a free food pantry available to all students. To raise awareness for this vital resource and help reduce the stigma of using the pantry, the Community Cupboard hosted an open house so students could walk through the space and learn more about the program. They plan to make more relationships within their local community to find new ways to keep the pantry well-stocked.
The chapter is also responsible for the program Swipe It Forward, which accepts donations of meal plan swipes that they pass on to those in need. Off-campus, the chapter volunteered at Plymouth Bridge House, a transitional living facility that provides shelter and resources to formerly unhoused residents as they work to find permanent housing. The chapter made dinner for the residents and shared a meal with them, helping the chapter learn more about food and housing insecurity and motivating them to do more work for their local community in the future.
The chapter offered emergency grants to students. Whether providing basic needs for a newly pregnant student or funding necessary medical care for an international student unable to access care on their own, the chapter was able to see the impact of their funding across the student body.
My experience with SSF has reinforced the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing the needs of others. I’ve had the chance to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and hear their stories. These interactions have motivated me to continue advocating for social justice and equity in all aspects of my life.
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL
As a liberal arts institution, Rollins College intentionally educates its students to be global citizens, responsible leaders, and active community members. This is reflected in the work of their SFF chapter, which was especially active in their volunteer efforts this year. They created the Tars Pantry, a free pantry on campus offering a comprehensive range of items from non-perishable goods to hygiene and household items. The pantry has been an important resource for students in need, especially since COVID-19 exacerbated food insecurity on campus. The chapter has been frequently restocking the pantry, a task made easier by a new inventory tool that tracks all incoming and outgoing items. They were able to purchase the tool after receiving a Dream Big Grant from MFF of $19,000.
The pantry has also spread awareness of the chapter and helped recruit new members. They plan to develop relationships with other college food pantries and community food banks in their area to share resources and wisdom, to promote membership bonding, and possibly work on events together.
Beyond their work with the Tars Pantry, they volunteered at Orlando McQuigg Gardens, partnered with their on-campus Hume House Child Development Center, and collaborated with the Center for Career and Life Planning to create a Career Closet, which stocks professional clothing students can use for job or internship interviews. Through their grant-making process, especially for emergency grants, they learned the importance of flexibility in qualifying funding areas, which they’ll apply in their decision-making going forward.
SSF taught me about how to read an application, how to make decisions on how to support people, and how genuinely involving your time with organizations makes the biggest impact.
Stetson University
DeLand, FL
Stetson University is a small liberal arts school in the suburbs of Orlando. This year, their SFF chapter focused their grants on serving academic, professional, and personal needs. They offered grants to students to cover the cost of everything from expensive textbooks and conference fees to internship dues and formal clothing to food and medical expenses.
Their fundraising efforts included selling “thankful grams” around Thanksgiving, participating in the University’s Second Annual 36-hour Giving Challenge hosted by the Department of Annual Giving, and taking over the Senior Class Gift campaign, which encouraged Stetson seniors to gift $20.24 in honor of their class year to the SSF Fund to help current and future Stetson students. Altogether, they raised well over $3,000.
The chapter wanted to give back to both their local community and campus community, which was reflected in their volunteer efforts. They spent time at the Alliance Community, a retirement home that permanently and temporarily houses seniors in need of physical support, making, as they describe, “a lifelong connection with the organization.” On campus, they partnered with another philanthropy club to create a toiletry drive for the University’s Hatters Pantry, a free pantry for students, and were able to donate 138 items.
SSF taught me that philanthropy is more than giving financial resources. It is supporting, organizing, and being an ally to everyone.
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
The University of Central Florida’s SFF chapter created funding opportunities to meet the diverse needs of their student body, which numbers almost 70,000 students. With steep cost of living increases in the Orlando area, especially around housing, they focused their grants on helping students cover their basic needs. Whether preventing a student from getting evicted from their home or helping with medical costs for a student injured in a car accident, the chapter made a significant impact on the lives of UCF students.
To serve such a large student body effectively, SSF club members knew they needed to raise funds to supplement MFF’s contribution. After making a compelling case on the impact of their work, they were able to receive an additional $6,000 from UCF’s Student Government, which has helped them offer grant opportunities to students over the summer semester for the first time.
Beyond grantmaking, they were also able to do a variety of volunteer projects. They worked with students with special needs, supported students dealing with food insecurity, and helped find homes for dogs and cats who are close to being euthanized. These volunteer efforts gave their members the opportunity to diversify their volunteer experience, broadening their knowledge of how service and philanthropy impacts their community.
What began as mere curiosity in SFF transformed into a strong drive to maintain an enduring relationship with the club. Over time, I’ve come to see it as a literal lifeline for many college students.
Vel Phillips Memorial High School
Madison, WI
Already one of the largest chapters—and just in its second year—Vel Phillips Memorial High School’s SFF chapter was able to grow even more, recruiting 12 new members this year. During the grantmaking process, they learned how to navigate bureaucracy and discover creative solutions to roadblocks. They evaluated each grant application based on its measurable impact, the diversity of the students it would serve, and whether it would address a “real need.”
Hosting five different fundraisers this year allowed the club to raise money and gain visibility in their local community and school. They partnered with local restaurants to raise money for the chapter and partnered with another volunteering club at their school to host a homecoming fundraiser. The latter’s proceeds, along with an additional $600 grant from MFF, allowed the two groups to purchase a washer and dryer for their special education department. Through that purchase, they were able to form meaningful connections with the students in the special needs department and see the impact of their work first-hand. They also appreciated the opportunity to work with other clubs and groups to build collaboration skills and learn how these other groups allocate their funding. Motivated by this year’s fundraising success, they’re planning to host even more fundraisers next year with the hope of raising at least $1,000.
One of their most successful ventures this year was a boba tea fundraiser. The chapter partnered with a local store, Le C’s Patisserie & Tea House, to sell boba tea at the school over the course of two days. They successfully navigated restrictions around food service on school property and set up a system to take pre-orders before lunch. SSF members drove to the partner store to pick up supplies twice each day. The fundraiser was a huge success, earning $872 in total while raising awareness of SSF.
SSF taught me about advocacy and management. You need to advocate for yourself and the causes you believe in to get funds, which teaches you to use your voice better. The club itself is made up of different branches of management, requiring teamwork and efficiency in communication and networking. Without good management skills, we would never reach businesses and be able to advertise to raise money for the school.
For more information or to inquire about starting an SSF club, visit https://morgridgefamilyfoundation.org/about/student-support-foundation/
Or send an email to ssf@thinkmff.org