Student Support Foundation teaches students to Dream Big
When my husband John and I launched the Student Support Foundation (SSF) more than 20 years ago, I was an adult student, in college for the first time and commuting to another city to earn my degree. Our children were in elementary school. When I got home in the evenings for dinner, we had rich conversations about learning, and the importance of great teachers.
Through our philanthropy, we already were supporting teachers and schools, but we wondered if we could weave something new into the mix. Could students learn the power of giving through hands-on experience, rather than textbooks? At the end of the day, we wanted them to learn that even a small gift could change a person’s life.
After carefully looking around, we saw that the kind of program we dreamt of didn’t exist. We would have to invent and create it. Remember, this was more than 20 years ago!
So one day, I walked into Olympia High School in Orlando, the high school nearest to where we lived at the time. I told the receptionist I had an idea to teach students how to give away money. Our money. She immediately called the school librarian, Nancy Bardoe, who loved the idea.
Nancy and her AP students worked with me for a year, on everything from naming the club to establishing the rules, regulations, and bylaws. I witnessed first hand how passionate members became about giving and helping other students. Thanks to this first club, the program got its name: the Student Support Foundation. The mission—to support the community within the school—has held to this date. At Olympia and everywhere else, the club sponsor is the glue to the success and continuity. They guide and cheer from the sidelines, allowing the students to make all the decisions.
Since the inception of SSF in 2003, dozens of high schools and colleges have started clubs. MFF provides an annual budget of $4,000 to each school, with the expectation that they will raise some funds of their own, learn to evaluate grant applications, and distribute funds as they collectively agree. Although some club sponsors have transitioned out of their leadership roles, and many cohorts of students have graduated, some clubs have lived on for many years.
Olympia High School, where it all began, has celebrated more than 22 years of giving. In 2003 when Nancy and I were working together, we never imagined this would happen!
When Olympia High School’s SSF club turned 10 years old, we couldn't believe how time had passed. As a way to celebrate their persistence, we thought up the Dream Big Grant, which is open to any club that celebrates a decade in operation.
Our Dream Big Grant is a great opportunity for schools to dream up a big project, build a budget, and pitch the Morgridge Family Foundation for funding up to $25,000. So far, we’ve awarded five such Dream Big Grants.
In 2014, Olympia High School in Florida became the first recipient. In their annual report to MFF, students said they learned and grew by persevering through several hurdles to realize their dream of updating their school’s communications system. Their grant allowed them to purchase eight display televisions, including the hardware, installation and other equipment.
In 2015, Plymouth State University in New Hampshire used their Dream Big Grant to expand their campuswide food pantry. Students reported starting a new Farm to Pantry (F2P) project. They wrote: “Working with staff and faculty on campus who have gardens and chickens, we will collect weekly food donations in the fall for our food pantry from local gardens. We expect F2P to reduce our need to buy eggs and vegetables.”
In 2019, La Follette High School in Wisconsin updated the school’s signage and created a more welcoming environment for students on campus and for neighbors who drive by. The club collaborated with school principals, the booster club, and building services on the two-year project, which introduced multi-lingual signage and became a point of pride for La Follette.
In 2023, Rollins College in Florida transformed their food pantry while expanding their capacity to help more students in need. They relocated the pantry, added shelving for more products, and introduced a barcode system to help with inventory and record-keeping.
Finally, in April 2024, Madison West High School in Wisconsin used their Dream Big Grant to fund a new school mural.
After more than 20 years, there are some key takeaways that are worth sharing about the Student Support Foundation. First, collectively, the clubs have given away over a million dollars. Just as every student is different, so is every club. Allowing each group to decide where the funds go has opened our eyes to the importance of believing in people to know what is right for their community. (Read our latest SSF Annual Report here for a recap of 2024–2025 projects by school.)
Second, we’ve had a long-term impact on a great number of student philanthropists. Once young people have had a taste of real hands-on giving, some even change their major to be more involved with the nonprofit sector. They have learned how to double their funds by raising matching funds, and they have learned to stretch their funding by partnering with others, or partially funding a grant. They've been truly inspired!
Another of our dreams has come true. We were hopeful from the beginning that a small amount of money invested properly into a grant, or a person, could change lives. We have heard from the students over and over again that they have learned to distinguish the great grants from the ones that would have less impact. They’ve learned to save some of their funds for the end of the school year, when needs can be the greatest.
Finally, there has been an unintended consequence of SSF. The clubs have created true community within the walls of their schools. When students join SSF, they build trust, friendship, and a place to belong. Many students admit they initially felt imposter syndrome, but the club gave them the confidence, training, and skill to become a philanthropist themselves.
We’ve enjoyed seeing SSF clubs sustain interest on their campuses, and learn to dream bigger and bigger every year. During this 2025–2026 school year, four more schools are eligible for the Dream Big Grant. We can’t wait to see what they propose!
We promise to keep you posted.
To read more about how small gifts can make a big difference, check out my book, Every Gift Matters, from MFF Publishing.
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