This past school year, Great Mills High School students as part of the AP Government curriculum participated in Project Possible. The year-long effort came to a close on June 1, when students involved presented a check for $2000 to St. Mary’s County Public School’s Shoe Fund.
The project was designed to raise funds for worthy causes in the area and around the world. The tireless efforts of students paid off to the sum of $8000, with $6000 raised to revitalize and renovate schools in Ecuador.
Throughout the school year, Great Mills students volunteered 1,186 hours in the community. In doing so, Project Possible participants were able to learn about poverty in the community and how that can affect education. Through Project Possible also learned how education affects poverty in a positive fashion, enabling the less fortunate to help themselves.
While involved in the project students had a positive impact on many organizations including the mentoring of elementary students through the Future Leaders of the World Mentoring Program. Students also provided community service to the CareNet Pregnancy Center, Three Oaks Men’s Shelter, the Mikes Bikes Holiday Food Delivery program, Cedar Lane, the Food Bank in Mechanicville and the Harvest for the Hungry.
The Project Possible main sponsor TAP’s Community Brotherhood was thrilled to work with the energetic students for its May Madness Charity Tournament, a three-on-three basketball tournament that grew to 58 teams with the Great Mills Project Possible help.
Students also gave assistance to the Special Olympics, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Christmas in April. Because of the sponsorship of TCB, the students were able to meet their goal and are looking forward further community involvement.
In addition to TCB, other sponsors were instrumental in helping Project Possible be the success it was. In a statement at the final ceremony where students presented SMCPS Superintendent, Dr. Michael J. Martirano a check for $2000 for the Shoe Fund, Project Possible participants said, “We recognize all the community members who saw us outside of Giant or McKays or anywhere else and contributed advice and/or money. We also want to recognize our parents and teachers at Great Mills who have supported the students throughout the year. Finally, we thank Dr. Martirano, Dr. Ridgell and Kevin Wright for their support in our endeavor.”
Upon receiving the check from Project Possible students, Dr. Martirano stated, “I am absolutely excited about the efforts and hard work of the students. I love the name of the program and the great logo.” Martirano went on to applaud the community service and more than one thousand hours worked by students.
TCB on Project Possible stated, “Project Possible is a service-learning project undertaken by Great Mills High School students. Through Oprah Winfrey’s O Ambassadors and Free the Children programs, these students raised $8,000 to build a school in Latin America and also to address the four goals of the program. The four goals are education, poverty, sustainable development, and health.
TCB concentrates its charitable efforts in St. Mary’s and because of the international aspect of Project Possible, shifted their rules somewhat and donated money for each hour of community service worked by Great Mills students. They also donated money for food delivered to food banks and other such donations; all of which are part of the TCB mission
