The LEAGUE Roster

The LEAGUE teams nationwide are in the midst of their own “March Madness" as they gear up for Earth Day – the final event of the school year! Earth Day may be global in scope, but it begins at home.  From planting trees to painting murals in schools, kids around the nation will be stepping up to improve and beautify their neighborhoods.

If you are not yet a part of The LEAGUE, please join us!  You’ll be in good company with 1678 teams (classes), 196 schools and 52,970 students actively participating in the The LEAGUE events and programming.

To date, The LEAGUE teams have contributed $4,914,468 in time (hours), talent and treasure (donations raised) back to their communities nationwide.  To find out more, visit www.theleague.org.

The DRIVE Teams Take Flight!

Drive Winners in NYCThe more than 36,000 student participants in "The Drive" contributed $803,341 worth of food and clothing – and an endless supply of kindness and goodwill – to people in need nationwide.

The Drive harnessed the efforts of 1,121 student teams from 170 schools across the country – to demonstrate the true power of working together for a common cause.  Courtesy of JetBlue Airways and The LEAGUE, student and teacher delegations from the top 20 scoring teams arrived in New York City on Friday, February 20.  In partnership with Soaringwords, a NY-based non-profit organization, the students celebrated service with service by spending the weekend decorating SoaringQuilts & SoaringPillows® with inspirational messages and artwork, as well as creating SoaringHaikus®, and SoaringSuperheroes® to donate to hospitalized children to inspire them to heal. 

"We couldn't be more proud of these students and coaches for giving of their time and talent to help others," says Doreen Stephens, Vice President of Programming & Marketing, The LEAGUE.

Soaringwords empowers communities to support chronically ill children and their families and inspire them to heal.  The students also had the opportunity to meet and learn from students across the nation, with plenty of time for some sightseeing in the city. 

"Our focus is on inspiring children and their families to never give up, no matter what," says Lisa Honig Buksbaum, CEO & Founder of Soaringwords.  "We are excited to have The LEAGUE students and teachers by our side and look forward to brightening the day for many hospitalized children."

Participating were coaches and student captains representing The LEAGUE teams from the following schools:  Watchung Hills Reg. H (Warren, NJ); Arlington Elementary School (Arlington, IN); Pleasant Crossing Elementary School (Whiteland, IN); Ann Richards School (Austin, TX); Mays Elementary School (Mays, IN); W. Charles Akins High School (Austin, TX); Trinity Episcopal School of Austin (Austin, TX); Break-O-Day Elementary School (New Whiteland, IN); Maple Ave. School (Newark, NJ); Pathfinder School (Pinckney, MI); Askew Elementary (Houston, TX); Community Middle/Community High School (Romulus, MI); Portage Middle School (Fort Wayne, IN); and J.E.J. Moore Middle School (Disputanta, VA).

Buckets of Love

What's in your bucket?  That's the question asked recently by the First and Second Grade classes at Thomas Reed Elementary School in Shelby, Michigan as they celebrated King Day with a special service event.

The idea was to spend a whole week literally filling buckets with stars symbolizing the good deeds performed by the students.  And fill them, they did.  

By week's end, the students had accumulated enough starts to account for 28.8 hours worth of acts of kindness.  That’s a bucket full -- and then some -- loaded with love.

The LEAGUE Names National Youth Commission Co-Founder and Chair

If you've always wanted to be part of shaping something, here's your chance.  The LEAGUE is forming a National Youth Commission to help assess its performance and plan for the future.Daniel Fine

At the helm of the commission is its Co-Founder and Chair, Daniel Fine.  Daniel is a sophomore at The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ.  In 2004, Daniel's brother was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes.  That inspired him to found Dollars for Diabetes, a youth-run fundraising initiative.  Daniel has received many awards and honors for his work, including the "Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership" presented by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
 
Daniel needs your help with serving as an advocate and ambassador for The LEAGUE by taking an active role in planning and evaluating programming, as well as engaging LEAGUE students and schools.  Members will serve a one-year term with the option of staying on for a second year.

To be considered for the National Youth Commission, applicants must attend a high school that is active in The LEAGUE, as well as be passionate about making a positive difference for others in their communities.  If you're interested, go to www.theleague.org for more information and to download an application.

Completed applications should be e-mailed to: youthcommission@leagueworldwide.org.
For more information, contact maria.cruz@leagueworldwide.org. 

School Bridge LEAGUE Announces Sponsorship

After a successful year one debut, the Youth North American Bridge Championship (Youth NABC) is back and scheduled for July 30 through August 1, in Washington, D.C.  The tournament, which attracts hundreds of students at all skill levels from throughout North America, is being presented by the American Contract Bridge League and co-sponsored by the School Bridge LEAGUE, an organization formed to bring bridge to students in schools nationwide.

"We are thrilled to continue our sponsorship of this championship tournament as it unites students from all walks of life in a game that's not only fun, but proven to enhance the critical thinking skills that are so important to helping kids succeed in school and in life," says Paula Alford-Johnson, School Bridge LEAGUE.  ACBL

The School Bridge LEAGUE was formed to introduce the game of bridge to children and teachers in schools nationwide.  It provides all the resources necessary for them to learn to play, hosting six virtual tournaments a year, along with an interactive web site.  To date, more than 300 students in 65 schools are actively involved in the program.

To register for this year's tournament, visit www.youthnabc.org/index.php?id=2 for an on-line form.  You can also register by phone or mail and forms must be completed by the player's parent and/or legal guardian. A signed Liability Waiver Form and Minor Consent Form must accompany all registrations.  Players from outside the U.S. are welcome but should remember that as of January 23, 2008, non-U.S. residents are required to present a valid passport for entry.  Registration fee is $45.00, but, if you register and submit your registration fee between now and May 31, 2009, you'll save $5.00 on your registration fee!  For more information, visit the Youth NABC Web site at:  http://www.youthnabc.org/.

Save The Date!

It's that time again… when The LEAGUE recognizes top performing schools, teachers and students during its Annual National Awards & Recognition Luncheon.

Last year's event was hosted by Queen Latifah (pictured at right with LEAGUE students). This year's event will take place on Wednesday, June 10.
 
Watch for more information in future issues of The LEAGUE Letter,  but for now, please save the date!

The TIPping Point - We Are All Connected

Blaise Pascal, a French scientist and philosopher once wrote, "The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble."

Imagine that we are that pebble. We are connected to everything in nature, and our power to make a difference is greater than we think. This is evidenced by The LEAGUE students as they recognize their power to make a difference.  One sixth grader in New Jersey recently helped contribute $22,000 worth of value to his school's community during a King Day Event.  "I made a difference!" he said.  "I can't believe it. When can we do this again?"

The LEAGUE is all about doing good – not just talking about it.  And, it's the joy students feel when helping others that motivates them to want to do more!  

As students nationwide gear up for their Earth Day events, they are learning that environmental stewardship is everyone's responsibility. Be sure and take time to reflect with them.  Just imagine, If each of them inspires just one other student, the "ripple effect" will soon be felt around the world.
 
Discuss and Inspire:

    * What can you do that might encourage someone else to be an environmental steward?
    * What does stewardship mean? What is environmental stewardship?
    * What items can we recycle that we aren't already recycling?
    * Bring a bag and pick up litter as you walk around the neighborhood.
    * Write a poem about recycling and display it by the recycle area at home.