August 2009

   
The LEAGUE Roster
The beginning of the school year is upon us and for the third year, the beginning of the school year marks the beginning of another LEAGUE season!  Students (players) and Teachers (service coaches) are gearing up for another school year of giving and making a positive difference in their community, and we are just as excited as they are!

Join the 2022 teams (classes), 247 schools and 80,682 students that have actively participated in the LEAGUE events and programs. To date, The LEAGUE teams have contributed 5,712,612 in time (hours), talent and treasure (donations raised) to their communities nationwide.

To find how to to get involved and make a positive difference in your community visit www.theleague.org.

Michigan's Super Servers
Each year over 100 students from across the state of Michigan come together to learn about service and leadership and how they can integrate it into their schools.  For the 2nd year D’Mario (Rio) Ellis, a junior at Romulus Community Schools and a member of the camp’s planning committee participated and wrote us a brief story about his experience.   Michigan Serves!

Wow, I must say that this year's Service and Leadership Camp was the most amazing experience I have ever had. This being my second year involved in this camp, it has become an obvious pattern that it gets better each year. Camp was held at Central Michigan University (GO CHIPPEWAS!!!) in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

On the first day we all participated in Challenge Day, which got us to realize our similarities as well as respect and empathize with other people’s differences and their lives. This was a great way to start camp because everyone opened up to each other and within hours of meeting, we were already like a big family. I have never felt closer to a room full of strangers than I did on Challenge Day.

The following day we began attending sessions, such as Youth Philanthropy, Education, World Wide Issues, Fundraising, Environment, Public Speaking, and Poverty.  Later, for our group service project, we teamed up with an organization called Kids Against Hunger to package enough food to feed 10,000 people, which is being distributed throughout the state of Michigan, the United States and Africa, what a difference we made in such a short time! In the evening, we had a nice dance and ice cream social while enjoying each other’s company. The entire day went as planned and was extremely successful.

On our last day of camp we began by continuing to distinguish the difference between service-learning, community-service, and community-restoration. After, we took time to separate into our regions and share our favorite service projects and make our own individual Pledge of Service. While still in our regions, we planned our next year of service and discussed future projects we would like to see executed in our communities/schools.

After reflecting on the weekend, we said our final goodbyes. This was by far the hardest part of the weekend.  I feel so blessed to be able to say I had the privilege to participate in this camp. I learned so much, met so many amazing people both young and mature, and had the time of my life while helping others. I will continue to carry the new faces as well as this experience in my heart for the rest of my life as I carry out my Pledge of Service. I am proud to call myself a 'SUPER SERVER!'

The LEAGUE Partners Up To Answer Mayor Bloomberg's NYC Service Initiative
Mayor BloombergIn April of 2009, Mayor Bloomberg launched NYC Service, a citywide effort to increase service and volunteerism in New York City. As part of the mayor’s blueprint, Service in Schools, a pioneering initiative to engage students in service and service-learning in all NYC public schools, was born. Through a partnership between the New York City Department of Education, Children for Children, Common Cents, City Year, Global Kids, and The LEAGUE: Curriculum by Learning to Give, every NYC public school can make service and civic responsibility a part of their student’s educational experience.
 
Are you on Twitter or Facebook? So are we!
We know you are fans and follow The LEAGUE in your real lives but consider this a formal invitation to be a cyber follower of The LEAGUE.  Become a fan of our Facebook page and a follower on Twitter! This is a great way to connect and meet with other teachers, advocates for education, organizations and students with the same interest in GIVING BACK and MAKING A DIFFERENCE!  We look forward to adding your name to a growing list of happy Facebook fans & Twitter followers.  Joining is FREE and who knows?  You might just run into an old friend or a chance to make a new one. Feel free to join a discussion, post a comment, twitter a tweet, we would love to hear from YOU!

Awards The LEAGUE With a Partner Badge
Education.com has awarded The LEAGUE and Learning to Give their exclusive partner badge.  This badge is given to The LEAGUE for all of the education resources it provides to education.com and others that have had a powerful and positive impact with educators, students and families. View the badge on LTG's Parent page!

School Bridge LEAGUE Interscholastic Tournament in NYC

On Saturday, August 15, 2009 9:00am - noon, School Bridge LEAGUE will host its 1st Annual Interscholastic Summer Tournament, at the Manhattan Bridge Club located at 250 W 57th Street in New York City.
 
SBL is still accepting schools/teams (walk-ins) and encourage all to participate, as this will be an exciting and rare opportunity for School Bridge LEAGUE students from the NYC Metro area to play with one another and socialize.
 
Please send all questions and inquiries to Paula Alford-Johnson at paula@schoolbridgeleague.org.

Linda Brucker Named Texas Top 25 Woman of Power
The LEAGUE's very own Linda Brucker, Executive Director, A Legacy of Giving and LEAGUE Austin State Director, was named as a top 25 Woman of Power and Influence by the Central Texas Women Industry Leaders. Brucker received the Women of Power award in the category of Non-Profit and Government/Leadership. She was presented her award by former Ambassador Karen Hughes of the Bush administration, who was also the keynote speaker.

Congratulations, Linda!

The TIPping Point
Cultivating Philanthropy
You are never too old for picture books. An excellent picture book is like a poem or a work of art that speaks to readers on many levels. The best books inspire our imaginations and carry us beyond what even the author and illustrator envisioned. The Gardener, a book written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small, blossoms as a portrait of philanthropy and grace. Through tiny Lydia Grace we learn to be brave and persistent, to share our time and talent, to pursue our interests and passions, and to cultivate peace in unfriendly soil. This book provides an excellent introduction to the concept of philanthropy as you kick off the service year this Fall. See the online literature guide that provides discussion questions and activities for this ageless story. And in this month of August when gardens are flourishing everywhere, use this book as a reminder to share the bounty of your garden as an act of philanthropy.


The LEAGUE is changing the world by empowering young people everywhere to "get in the game" of making their community and world a better place.