Inspired November

West Newton ElementaryTotem Poles 6

Walker Career Center Front Runner Media ProductionsPage 32

Students In Action Page 26

Cover DesignXander, 61st Grade

West Newton ElementaryCamby, IN

ISSUE November 2014

N S P I R E DExpress Yourself

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departments

Letter, 4Poetry, 5Art, 8Science, 12

Writing, 20

Sports, 30

POCA Awards, 32

Book Review, 39

Colton’s Corner, 40

PUBLISHERMichael Vander Sande

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORLindsay Manfredi

ART DIRECTORBrian Brosmer

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features

Spacetronauts, 12Meet the Maconaquah Elementary School called “Spacetronauts”

FEATURE, 16Hear from the students of West Newton Elementary School and their beautiful Totem Poles

WCC Frontrunner Media Productions, 32Lamera finds her passion behind the camera with Warren Career Center

IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Scholarship Award Recipient, 42President of the Pike Chapter of the Business Professionals of American (BPA), Akil Newton

Close up of Totem Pole West Newton ElementaryCamby, IN

CONTENT

4 Inspired /InspiredKidsIndy /inspiredkidmag

Thank you for reading our November edition. We continue to be overwhelmed at the quality of material created by Kids that we have the joy of publishing.

Our feature is amazing work done by Kids at West Newton Elementary School, please drive by their school at 7529 Mooresville Rd, West Newton, IN and see for yourself and read about them on page 16. We also continue to feature Kids from Spaceport, Earth Charter Indiana, The Children’s Museum, and others.

Inspired Kids is proud to have become the Fiscal Sponsor of Play It Safe a new nonprofit started by a remarkable eleven year old, Olivia Keith. Play It Safe is Olivia’s effort to protect Kids after both her parents suffered brain injuries. She is providing protective helmets to Kids in Indianapolis who might otherwise not have one. She is also announcing Don’t Waist Your Belt a program and effort to get belts to IPS Kids who must wear belts as part of their school uniform. Olivia learned of this while guest speaking at School 103 in September 2014 and she learned that often Kids are disciplined for not having or wearing a belt. Don’t Waist Your Belt is a call for all of us to visit our closets, find our old belts and then drop them off at Indianapolis YMCAs or other locations throughout Indianapolis. Her first goal is to get 200 belts for the Kids at school 103, with larger goals to get belts for all IPS Kids by start of school, 2015. Please learn more about her plans at here.

Inspired Kids is a new nonprofit which appreciates the support we have gained this our first year. We remain a nimble startup and will remain flexible as we continue our “launch.” As a nonprofit we naturally appreciate your financial support which can begin at the Indianapolis Arts Council, or via the donate buttons on our website. Our mission - To Inspire Kids is what drives us and your help allows us to continue to grow, develop, and make an impact in the lives of Kids.

Letter from the Publisher

NOEL, 1711th Grade

Decatur Central High SchoolIndianapolis, IN

LETTER

http://www.power2give.org/Indianapolis/Project/Detail?projectId=8559

http://www.dontwaistyourbelt.org



MY HAPPY PLACEWhat makes me happy is the sound of the birds and the chirp of the cricketsWhat makes me happy is the view of the grapes in July What makes me happy is running with my friends who speak another languageWhat makes me happy is the old lady’s broom sweeping dirt off the doorstep. What makes me happy is the smell of dirt coming of the tractors. My happy place is Baune.

Lily, 127th Grade

International School of Indiana

Indianapolis, IN

CAFETERIAThe cafeteria is loudEveryone is shoutingYelling and screaming across the tableIts too loud but they don’t knowThe teachers trying to get them to quite downNo one is listeningHow frustrating it isSo then the teacher’s screams and bangs on the tableEveryone gets quiteIn fright and fearReady to listenWhen the teacher is doneIt goes back to the way it wasWhen everyone was screeching Yelling, shouting, and screamingThe bell rings, everyone cleans upAnd off to their next class

Khalil, 127th Grade


Indianapolis, IN

GLASSESI sit on her face all day. I help her see things but I know she hates me. Sometimes she takes me off just for fun. This girl, and me we have a love hate relationship. She needs me but she feels jealousy for the people who don’t have to wear my kind. My kind. Am I an outsider, do not have as many rights or feelings?I have the right to be jealous too, I mean she’s always talking but I never have time to socialize with my kind. All people ever hear are her opinion but I’m quite talkative too. If you listen carefully you will know my insides are blue.I am a person too and through the nights I have freedom and rights!So I will let you and her think that all I do is sit on her face all day. Little do you know I have a mind and a brain too. I am glasses. I can’t do anything to control my fate. So here I sit on her face.

Sophie, 127th Grade


Indianapolis, IN

POETRY


FREEDOM OF INNER BEAUTY

beauty speaks from your heart and inner - self as who you truly are deep insidethat sweet innocent person you try to deny is living out her dream to be herselfplease don’t try to crush me as i walk awayto much pain i already take from my past to where i stand nowi want to be freed not locked up in some cage i just want to be mei want to live not die slowly because of your beliefi may have those same beliefs but we’re far differenti love to love most of everyone and anyone as i canno matter the hurt and pain they’ve caused medo what Jesus did loved everyone no matter whom that caused him great painthough his great love is all we needwhat i needi need to live and be freei want to love freely and to be free to marry whom i love and free to be who i ami’m tired of trying to be someone i’m not for youis it a crime to be myself is ityou say i’m your daughter but dont seem like it much to mefor what i feel from your actions im a disgrace to you i’m nothing that you’ve wantedsure you see most people around are straight for most of what they say but dont seem much like ita poem like this is my true feelings of me and how i view thingssure i may get bullied it’s really nothing new it seems to me that it still happens to me from past to today

i can get used to itbut trying to get used to not having my rights is gonna take time i dont want to get used to that i want my freedom as they say we have but it’s a BIG FAT LIEthe TRUTH where is it because i can’t see itif you love me as your daughter i should be able to be myself freely without feeling disgracedBEAUTY AND LOVE is from withinif everyone can show it this world wouldn’t be so chaoticit’s hard to feel strong when you’re feeling broken by those that you thought would still love you no matter whatdreams are being crushed no where to goif you can help make eyes shine bright and not fade into dullnessmaybe you can love with no regrets of what other’s thoughtthat’s why i have no other choice but to make myself strong by doing all i can to love myself when i see you don’tsigns of weakness you cant give as strength when you’re blindedtake some time to think and realize the words that you’re saying and try to be a help to many lives that are being crushed by crueltyif you truly love than show me that you do and dont just say itbecause want to see and feel that you dootherwise i may not be your true daughterif i’m not how you’ve ever wanted of meall i dream of more is to be free to be me

De’Andra, 1812th Grade

Warren CentralIndianapolis, IN

POETRY


THE TIMID RECYCLING BIN

I sit in the corner all day hiding from the big monstersSometimes the monsters forget about me, but sometimes they throw wads of scratchy white stuff into my mouth, it really hurts!The worst is when they shake me over my grandfather’s ginormous mouth and run me back to the box

When they do this I feel like all my organs are being thrown out I feel as if barbaric baboons surround meThe scariest part is when all the monsters gather in the noisy box across from me and have some sort of session to plot my doomI am surrounded and don’t know where to go Until I figure out a plan of master escape I am here surrounded by monstersMe and my friend Trashy are going to go down together

Eleanor, 127th Grade


Indianapolis, IN

DEPRESSION

Depression moves like a slow train,And you’re waiting for it to pass,But you’re not sure when or if it ever will. And all you can do is wait for it to end.

Depression hovers like a dark cloud on a rainy day,You can’t find shelter if you wanted to. That cloud keeps you away from all of the things you could be doing,If it wasn’t for that cloud.

Depression plays a sad melody in your head, Over and over and over again. Its lyrics say, “nothing will change, there’s no hope” Its lyrics are hopeless, and make you feel alone.

Depression is a dark night with no dawn. There is no moon, no stars and no hope of sunlight. It is an infinite darkness. It keeps you waiting for a sunrise that will never come.

Depression is a painful condition.It feels like an endless headache that won’t go away. The pain feels like it never goes away and you just want it to end. It gets so bad; you are willing to do anything to get rid of the pain.

Meredith, 12 7th Grade


Indianapolis, IN

POETRY


ARTNatalie, 13

Grade 8

Khyreese,12 Grade 7

Broad Ripple High SchoolIndianapolis, IN

Delia, 13 Grade 8


Genevieve, 92nd GradeWest Newton ElementaryCamby, IN


Karen, 14Grade 9Broad Ripple High SchoolIndianapolis, IN

ART

Danny, 14Grade 9 Broad Ripple High SchoolIndianapolis, IN

Keagan, 92nd Grade


Machaila, 15 Grade 10



ART

Tra’chelle, 15 Grade 10


Faith, 82nd Grade


Alyssa, 1712th Grade

Warren Central High School

Indianapolis, IN


ARTTantania, 15 Grade 10Broad Ripple High SchoolIndianapolis, IN

Bliss, 82nd Grade


Edihan, 61st Grade


Ella, 92nd GradeWest Newton ElementaryCamby, IN


We were in a class at Maconaquah Elementary School called “Spacetronauts.” We learned a lot about science, technology, and math in this fun class. We did balloon launches, science experiments, and we kept science journals. First, we sent a balloon into the Earth’s atmosphere. Brian Tanner, from Space Port Indiana, brought the balloon and the hydrogen gas for the balloon. The balloon was probably 8-9 ft. tall. It was connected to a box filled with science experiments that our class wanted to test. Five of our experiments were chosen for each balloon launch. The box with the experiments would go into the sky

with the balloon. For example, one of the science experiments was about seeing if crayons melted, froze, or both at different elevations. The balloon stayed up for about two hours.Also connected to the balloon was a tracker. We tracked where the balloon went for approximately half of the school day. We used our computers to connect with the tracking device on the balloon. We computed how much higher the balloon was getting by the minute. We also made predictions where the balloon would land according to the speed of the balloon. When the balloon came down, some volunteers drove to get the balloon. One time, our balloon was struck by lightening! Once the

Spacetronauts.

SCIENCE

Space Port Indiana is a member of the commercial space industry offering both commercial and educational opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds. Space Port conducts several STEM/PBL based classes, camps and events throughout the year are open to students ages 7 and older. The mission of Space Port is to immerse students in space and earth science through hands on experiences in Astronomy, Engineering, Robotics, Space Craft, and more. The Space Port’s award winning programming and curriculum is a great fit and encourages partnerships between schools, educators and our Mission Specialists. The new Space Port Exploration Centre will open in 2015 and offer training in UAVs, 3D Printing, exhibits, interactive displays and historical artifacts. To schedule a classroom visit or attend events visit www.spaceportindiana.com.

Sponsored by


SCIENCE

balloon was in our hands, we looked at the experiments to see if our hypotheses were correct. We also had a week long class on learning about space. One experiment we did was an egg drop. Everyone made a contraption to hold the egg. We could only use certain things like straws, cotton balls, and a few other things. We dropped the egg from a certain height and we would see if it would break. This was teaching us that it takes a lot of support to make spacecrafts.We also did a project about the moon. We looked at how an why the moon changes shape each month. We made the phases of the moon out of Oreos, and we wrote all the phases of the moon with each shape. We ate the Oreos after we were done. The next thing we did was an Edible Lunar Rover. The Lunar Rover was made out of food like Oreos, vanilla wafers, jumbo marshmallows, and icing for the glue. This project taught us what a Lunar Rover looked like and how the astronauts used it. Since it was edible, we ate it afterwards too! At the very end of the year we took a field trip to the Indianapolis Challenger Center. We pretended we were on a mission to the moon. Everyone had a job on different teams. We were on the Life Support team with two other people. Half the class was in Mission Control and the other half of the class was on the space shuttle. The teams were sending each other messages to communicate. Once we ran low on oxygen. If we didn’t refill in 10 seconds we would fail! All of the people were counting on us and we refilled it on time. We were very happy! So we made it to the moon and back. Of course it was all pretend, but we learned a lot about teamwork, what the NASA does, and the special training it takes to be an astronaut.

Sponsored by

SCIENCE

Sponsored by

Hi, I’m Noah and I’m 10 years old. I attended Spaceport Indiana’s Space Camp this summer. It was amazing and a really good way to get a good look at cool science. We did everything from building a Lunar Lander to launching a balloon into the edge of space. It was so cool! We learned about rockets by building examples from milk cartons and then seeing a launch too. One really cool thing was learning about Ham radio. It takes some time to figure out how to contact somebody but you can talk to people from around the world. You can even talk to the International Space Station. You need a license to do it but if you can read and pass the test you can get a license. We learned a lot about the three most important people in science. Galileo, Newton and Bernoulli. These three people are important to the way we understand a lot about science. Bernoulli explained air density and Newton was the person who explained gravity. We used telescopes to see stars like the one I have at home and learned about Galileo. Space Camp was a great time and I have gone the last 3 years. I plan on going again next year too. I learned a lot about science and now I can try experiments at home that are fun too (As long as my Mom is with me). See you at Space Camp!

Noah’s Space Camp DreamsNoah, 10 Grade 5

Indianapolis, IN

Express Yourself

ways to follow N S P I R E D

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FEATURE

West Newton Elementary School is an Artful Learning School. Content matter is taught using arts-based skills such as visual arts, dance and drama to support learning. Literacy, Math and Science are taught every day using methods that are active, hands on and exciting for our students. At West Newton Elementary there is a rich tradition of parent and family participation which is so important for each child’s success at school. Part of West Newton’s culture is to encourage Tiger Pride by celebrating outstanding attendance, wonderful effort, and respectful behavior each month during Tiger Time. On November 6th, they cut the ribbon for the official permanent placment of their totem poles created by their students with guidance from their school teachers, administrators and parents. It is best described by the students involved. Here are a few of their comments:

I like the dedication in making the totem poles. I know it takes a long time to make but it turns out really nice and I liked that a lot of the kids got to help make them. I like that you put the totem poles there because if I ever drove next to there again I would remember the memories I had help making a totem. I’m very happy that you finished the totems and they turned out better than I would expect. I really hope they last for years for people to remember earlier years they had making them. – Charlie, 6th grade, Age 11

The totems are really cool the way we stacked them on the pole. Also how it’s all about Indiana. I especially admire the Indy car totem. Now I can say when I grow up that I was in 6th grade when the totems went up. — Gavin, 6th grade, Age 11

When I was in 5th grade I helped make the totems that are out in front of our school. I helped make the shape of them and when I was doing that I got really messy but I still kind of had fun doing it. I made some of the designs on them and I also painted some of the small pieces. Some times when we were making them it was boring but other than that I had fun making the totems. — Abigail, 6th grade, Age 11

WEST NEWTON ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL

TOTEM POLES


FEATUREToday I am going to tell you about west newton totem poles. The totem poles have been super fun to make they are super colorful. We put Indiana history on them like the state flower or the state bird. The totem poles were made because they marked this time in history and to represent the state of Indiana. Our art teacher Mrs. Suchy has organized this activity for our school to represent our state and all of our artful learning projects.All the grades 1-6 worked on these totem poles to show that our state is very special place to be in. My friends and I worked very hard on these totem poles together as a school. The totem poles are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I bet that if you looked at them you would truly know what Indiana is about. Once I am older I can look back and say to myself that when I was in 4th grade when those totem poles went up I was there to them. — Olivia, 4th grade, Age 9

The totem poles outside in front of our school were rolled out by hand me and my friend Hunter Herndon were fifth graders at the time and we must have spent as least 70 recess. To make our school very neat and very beautiful for all of you to see I am 12 years old and I help make the totem poles for our school. — John, 6th grade, Age 12

The totem poles you see outside in front of our school my friend John and I worked very hard we spent most of our recess rolling them out and building them. I also stayed after school one day since Mrs.Suchy was behind and I am glad to see all my and my friends work out for you to be able to see the beautiful artwork we have made hope for other generations to come and enjoy thanks. — Hunter, 6th grade, Age 12

I helped make the totem poles it was a school project. Everybody was involved students and family we are an artful learning school so that was a way that we could show it and they are going to sit out there forever it was fun doing because each group made there own little desighn we made the Indiana hockey team. So that’s what we did to prove we are an artful learning school. — Christian, 6th grade, Age 12


FEATUREThe totems were hard to make because some of us had to carry almost a hundred pounds of clay. It was also hard to make the decorations that are on the totems. When I see the finished totems I feel happy about myself for helping to make something so amazing. — Aiden, 6th grade, Age 11

The totems came out outstanding and I admire how they are stacked up. I wish that I could have helped with it because I would have a memory I made here. I especially like the Indianapolis Colts. I like how they did the Indianapolis 500 with the race cars. I just hope no one runs into them but I’m probably just getting sytracked. I just can’t wait till I grow up and come back here to see these standing. I would show my kids this when they grow up. — Bryce, 6th grade, Age 11

I stayed after school for hours to help with the totems. I worked long and hard on them. The time that I spent paid off because now we have a wonderful piece of artwork to look at and be proud that we helped make those. It was an incredible experience to make and paint them. I enjoyed getting to paint the totems because we could use any color paints we wanted. This project looks beautiful next to our school. I really hope this project that we created will stay at our school for years. — Alison, 6th grade, Age 11

Starting in January 2014 and ending in November, the totems have been fun to make in my experience. I had fun being a part of the creating, painting, and decorating to make the totems vvhat they are now. I got to paint on about 2 totems by myself and about 3 with help. I even got to roll the clay for the totems, too. I also shaped them, but that was a little difficult in my eyes. I got to work with my friends and art teacher while staying after school. It has been difficult, too. Some pieces cracked and broke. Luckily, we were able to create new totems in their places. I am glad to see them up, and now I can say that I was a part of an amazing but long Journey. — Janie, 6th grade, Age 11


FEATUREMaking the totems has been a long journey. We had to mold and put decorations on them. It took us nearly a year to make the totems. It was awesome to be able to hang out with friends while making the totems. Mrs.suchy gets the most credit because she has been a great art teacher and came up with the idea of the totems ... if you look at the totems outside of our wonderful school you will see that we all worked really hard on them. It was fun to have a part in making the totems. My part in making the totem was to roll out the clay. I loved making the totems it was very pleasurable. I would like to say a thank you to Mrs. Suchy for having the totems outside on a very special day, the dedication of the totems on November 6, 2014. — Allyssa, 6th grade, Age 11

Today I’m going to tell you about the totem poles at West Newton Elementary school. They are putting them in front of the school. Each and every student helped make the totems. They are there there to show different cultures of the state of Indiana. These totem poles are unique and are beautiful. They are made from a very very strong clay, so it can sit through storms that could knock down any normal clay. Our great art teacher, Ms. Suchy helped us make them. Thank you for giving me your time to read this article about our fantastic totem poles. — Camryn, 4th grade, Age 9

Today I’m going to tell you about the Totem Poles West Newton made. I loved making the Totem Poles because one we had so much fun staying after school with our awesome art teacher, Mrs.Suchy to paint them. Each one represents something about how special Indiana really is! Each is very beautiful and unique. For example one might have pictures of the Colt’s symbol to show how Indiana is special for their football team. I hope you think it is as special as I do! — Rachel, 4th grade, Age 9

The totems at west newton are cool It takes a lot of time to get done. When I see the totems I feel like doors are opening to a new start. The totems here bring me joy. My journey with the totems is fun and once you get to see them I bet you will be blone away. My school makes the best art because of Ms. Suchy she is the best art teacher ever. The more art we make the more awesome our school gets. The totems bring joy to our school. The more art we see our heart will get a head start. — Tianna, 4th grade, Age 9


WRITING

All the girls tiptoed toward Babushka’s room to check on the sewing machine and fabric.“Don’t worry, I know my way,” Sokron smiled.They walked through the small hall full of many identical doors. Sokron put her hand on a door knob, turned to the group, opened the door and said, “We‟re here!”“I didn’t know your grandma lived in the bathroom!” Meeka giggled as she looked at the bathroom sink.“Just kidding, but does anyone need to go to the bathroom?” Sokron questioned as her cheeks turned beet red.Sokron closed the bathroom door and went to open the door on her left. Behind that door was a closet. She then opened one other door, opened another door, and another door, and another door, and another door with no success.The girls felt very frustrated and sat on the floor. They began to laugh at each other. Sokron, who rarely went to Babushka’s room, tried to open the last door, but she did not have enough strength to pull the door open. She thought to take a little break on the floor, but knew that this was the last chance of finding Babushka’s room.

Babushka’s Room (excerpts from Chapter 5 of Sewing a Friendship)

Illustrations and Story byNatalie, 137th GradeOrange County School of Arts, Visual Art ConservatorTemecula, CA

RileyChildren’s Foundation

Sponsored by


WRITING

PLAY IT SAFE………………….When kids think of that saying, they don’t care for it, whether it’s playing baseball outside or even the simplest thing like riding your bike without a helmet. Tons of things are unsafe. It’s not fun to get hurt. In my opinion, most kids love playing outside. Wouldn’t you agree?

THE REASON………………….My parents both have brain injuries. That is why I want to teach kids about my organization called Play It Safe. I love to volunteer for the Brain Injury Association of Indiana. It is so fascinating to see all of these people and being able to meet some of my mom’s friends. The reason why I only mentioned my mom is because she got a brain injury by a semi running into her vehicle. My dad got a brain injury from having a stroke.

SAFETY TIP…………………Every event that I attend with my organization Play It Safe, I hand out a tip card that has 5 tips on it. My favorite tip is ‘have an emergency plan and know how to respond. That tip explains when someone gets hurt, or has a weather crisis, it is ALWAYS good to have an emergency plan. This tip happens a lot of times a day. That is why it is ALWAYS important to keep that tip in mind 24-7, meaning you never know what you will bump into. What do you do when someone gets hurt? What do you do in a weather crisis?

EMERGENCY……………………When my dad just started to have his stroke, we had no idea what was going on. At that time, my dad worked nights at Lowes in Noblesville. As he was about to go to work, the stroke kept going on. He could hardly pick up a glass of Dr. Pepper! Finally realizing that there was an emergency, we called 911. So as you can see, having an emergency plan and knowing how to respond is a great tip. With this tip

YOU CAN HELP SAVE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Play It Safe Olivia, 116th GraderSand Creek IntermediateFishers, IN

5 tips for safety:• Wear a helmet and make

sure it fits properly• When outside, always

make sure you can be seen

• Play it by the rules• Buckle up when riding in a

car• Have an emergency plan

and know how to respond


WRITINGRileyChildren’s Foundation

Sponsored by

RILEY’S KIDS

On October 7 a few years ago, after dealing with a high fever and cough for a couple of days the Swathwood family decided to take their 5-year-old son Carter to the doctor. Carter was immediately seen, given a breathing treatment and then had a few other tests done. Even before doing tests on him, the doctor knew that Carter would be admitted to the hospital because of the severity of his case. Carter had a lot of trouble breathing and after testing positive for H1N1 the doctor considered that he might have a secondary bacterial pneumonia infection.“We made our way to Home Hospital on the East side of town. Over the next 12 hours, Carter’s condition quickly became much worse and we knew something more had to be done. The doctor came to the hospital, did his examination and then said that the helicopter would be there in 20 painstaking minutes to transport him to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis.” The Swathwood family anxiously sped to catch up to Carter. Carter’s mother, Melissa describes her experience after getting to see him for the first time in the hospital “He was admitted to the PICU and when we arrived we were very surprised to see how calm he was, as well as all the gifts he has received. Riley has a program

called “Cheer Guild”, they provide gifts and activities to hospitalized children. These gifts are purchased by donations from everyday people. By the time we got there, which was only 20 minutes after him, he had his very own fleece soccer blanket, a lifelike fire truck with lights and sirens, a ceramic pumpkin to paint, and much, much, more!”Throughout the entire horrific experience, Carter and his family felt as though they were provided with the best and most exceptional care. Carter’s mother says that the doctors and nurses were all very patient and explained his condition in ways that they could understand. The Swathwood family was able to feel comforted during their stay at the hospital, because Riley staff made every effort to make them feel at home. It was small details such as a hot shower and meal provided by the Ronald McDonald house that enhanced their nerve-racking stay at Riley. The Ronald McDonald house is run solely on donations and individuals willing to cook and deliver to the hospital.Carter has used his story to inspire others to give back to the hospital that saved his life. In 2012, Carter started attending the Purdue University Dance Marathon and he was able to rain $5,764 and help PUDM reach their MILLION dollar goal. Carter continues to fundraise and has a goal to raise $5,000 all FTK (for the kids)!

My name is Sneha Dave and I will be the new columnist for the Riley kids page within this magazine. I am a junior at Center Grove High School. I have been a Riley kid from a very young age and I have been impacted by the amazing support that Riley.

Carter’s StoryThe Riley Kids pages are pages devoted to kids within or associated with Riley Children’s Hospital. Many of these kids have remarkable stories, and are remarkably talented, and these pages are avenues for these kids to share their work. In the midst of everything these kids are facing or have experienced, we hope we are providing an outlet for them and inspirational stories to you our readers.

Riley Hospital is a remarkable hospital that provides hope to kids around the world. With a hospital here in Indianapolis, in Kenya, and offices spread throughout Indiana, Riley is a first rate organization that provides outstanding medical care on a loving and supportive environment. They never turn a child away regardless of the family’s inability to pay. Donations to Riley assure they continue to provide amazing care to kids.


Note: As director of Youth Power Indiana, I am committed to connect-ing young people to sustainable practices. When it comes to visit-ing local sustainable farmers, Tyler Gough’s Indy Urban Acres is a natural destination. I’ve been taking kids to Indy Urban Acres for quite some time; this city park grows food to feed the hungry of Indianapolis. They use organic practices and are mindful of how they treat the soil — and all of earth’s resources. This summer, Fountain Square area kids took me to Indy Urban Acres on a city bus. Thanks to them, I realized pairing sustainable food education with mass transit was a perfect fit. Cars are bad for the environment. So, when Project Libertas decided they wanted to visit Mr. Tyler’s farm, I suggested they navigate their way there on IndyGo. They seized the challenge; here is their story… — Jim Poyser

When we got off the bus Mr. Tyler was waiting for us at the bus stop near Indy Urban Acres Farm. First he showed us the nearby community garden. He said that

people who didn’t have room for gardens at home could come here and plant their own. Next he took us to a free pick garden where we tried radishes and tomatoes. When some people tried the radishes some them started saying “HOT!!!!HOT!!!!.”Some of the other kids said “I NEED WATER!”Next we went to see the bees and chickens. Mr. Tyler even let one of my classmates keep one of the eggs. Then we went to see the green house and then showed us their flowers. He told us that since all of their food goes to food pantries they sell flowers to support the farm. We got to plant radishes to take home with us. We sat at the bus stop until the IndyGo bus came. We played games and read on the bus until we came to our stop. We waited for the next bus. Some of the passengers were happy that there were kids on the bus, others were not so happy. When we got to our bus stop we still had a few blocks to walk.

Indy Urban Acres Farm

IrisGambold High School

Indianapolis, IN

Sponsored by

COMMUNITY


As I look back over this trip I think about how Indy Urban Acres is a community where everyone works together to give good food to the food banks. The bus takes longer because there are many stops, but it is cheaper than owning a car. Before taking this trip we did research about how to get there using the bus, and how much it would cost. This taught me how to use the IndyGo website to plan bus trips. My class took this trip because we are studying access to resources. I learned that not everyone can just get in their car and go to the store and buy what they need. My favorite part of this trip was seeing the flower garden and the way they water it without wasting any water.Project Libertas is an independent K-8 school located near the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Learn more at: projectlibertas.org

Sponsored by

COMMUNITY


Sponsored by

COMMUNITY

SIA stands for Students In Action... Launched in 2006 by the Jefferson Awards and Deloitte, SIA has been training high school students to not only become leaders, but also community advocates. Over the years SIA has grown, and is currently active in 325 high schools in 13 different communities throughout the United States. One of which is right here in Indianapolis! In those years SIA has trained over 12,000 students, many of whom were inspired to continue to serve their community after high school! Together SIA students from around the country have performed over 14 million hours of service. That’s a lot of hours! Imagine how many people’s lives we have touched in 14 million hours. In the end it doesn’t come down to just the numbers, it comes down to the impact we have had on people’s lives and our communities. Every year on September 11th, we honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in 2001, including all of the

firefighters and police officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to save lives. In 2002 a National Day of Service was launched by a group helping the victim’s families of those who died on 9/11. In 2009 Congress officially designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Two of the three pillars of SIA are Leadership and Engagement so this year our SIA team of 28 students organized a school-wide day of service on September 11th. After weeks of preparation, we successfully managed to have every student at Greenfield Central High School doing some form of service on 9/11. That means that over 1400 students were either out in the community or within the school corporation performing some form of service. Services included cleaning up parks, reading to young children, and spending time with residents in nursing homes to name a few. As you can see, our service not only helps our community, but it also helps us grow as

Sara, Alexis, and Erin Greenfield Central

High School Indianapolis, IN

Together: Student In Action (SIA)


Sponsored by

COMMUNITY

individuals. The final pillar of SIA is impact...how have we affected people’s lives for the better? One of the biggest projects on our day of service was working with “Kids Against Hunger” to package meals to fight hunger in over 60 countries around the world. On our day of service we were successfully able to pack over 35,000 meals to send to children in need, both locally and internationally. Together we touched the 21,000 lives of the people in our community. But what meant the most was the personal impact. It is the student returning saying “I want to volunteer there again,” the student that returns and tells their teacher “I feel happy with myself because of what I did,” or the student, that never participates in class, talking about what she did and how tired she is from the work. It also is the email from a parent to our principal surprised because their son talked about what he did at school and seeing his excitement made their day. For this very reason we encourage you to become a part of SIA, whether you are a teacher, principal, or student. Today poverty levels are at an all-time high, non-for-profits are struggling to stay afloat in a poor economy, and people need help. Whether you’re cleaning u p a park, helping at an animal shelter, working at a nursing home or hospital to hopefully brighten people’s days, or helping around your school... You are making an impact on someone’s life, no matter how small.


5th Grade WinnerBrian, 12KIPP Indy

6th Grade Winner

Erick, 12Garden City Elementary

School

7th Grade WinnerLorielle, 12

KIPP Indy

8th Grade WinnerAnnabelle, 13Franklin Township Middle School East

These are the winners of the 2014 - 2015 Poster Contest sponsored by: Marion County Health Department, SAVE and Peace Learning Center.In this years contest over $1300 in gift cards were awarded to winners. Certificates of Recognition, were also awarded to both placing awards and honorable mentions.

Sponsored by

COMMUNITY


SPORTS

Ever since I started racing in 2005 that’s all I have wanted to do just like my father and grandfather I have had the dream to be a professional race car driver and that hasn’t changed for me, working so hard to reach reach my dreams working hard in the shop in the week, at the track, around town trying to get sponsor help is how hard I work on making my dream become true!

I am a 16 year old go kart driver from Columbus Indiana, born into a racing family with my dad Tony Smith who has raced go-karts since he was 14, my great uncle Jack Smith raced dirt late models. I have it in my blood and that’s what I want to do! I started racing when I was 6 years old and in my first season I won 5 races finished 2nd in the rookie OHV class and was named rookie of the year at (C.K.C) Columbus kart club. My next 2 season I won back championships at (C.K.C) Columbus kart club , in 2010 I

won my first state series (H.D.K.A) Hoosier dirt karting alliance followed by another in 2012! Including winning all my classes at the first annual king of the coring race in Montgomery, Indiana My first year in the senior division 2013 I won 4 races! And multiple top 10 finishes, this season I won 4 races with multiple top 3 finishes and and only 1 finish outside the top 10! Racing is my passion and it’s what I do and now I am in talks of moving up into a 1000cc mini sprint thanks to Eway racing, a great company that has sponsored me the last couple seasons! Never give up on your dreams you can do anything you put your mind too! Thanks god bless

Devin Smith, 17Devin Smith Racing

Columbus Signature Academy

My Road to Success

Don’t Waist YourDon’t Waist YourDon’t Waist Your

Our goal is to receive 2,000 Belts to provide to IPS Students this next year.

Please visit us at dontwaistyourbelt.org to learn more about us.



My Road to SuccessFrontRunner Media Productions is more than just a high school program. This program allows me to get hands on opportunities that I wouldn’t be able to find in any other program. Let alone at any other school. This unique program is located in the Walker Career Center on the campus of Warren Central High School and was made possible through a grant awarded through Race To The Top. FrontRunner has given me the chance to learn how to use top of the line video equipment. The equipment we have at our disposal is very comparable to what is used out in the “real world.” For instance, you would be hard-pressed to find another school with a 24’ High Definition, seven camera mobile production trailer and an 18’ Jimmy Jib Lite crane. But FrontRunner is more than high tech equipment. It also affords me the chance to work right alongside media production professionals on real projects, for real clients.

COMMUNITY

The Walker Career Center serves students from Warren Central, New Palestine, Greenfield and Mt. Vernon High Schools. The career center offers more then twenty programs that utilize state-of-the-art equipment and technology that meet or exceeds industry standards. Programs serve those students who choose to go directly into the world of work and those students who choose to go on to a two or four year college program. Programs also offer dual college credit and certifications from a number of colleges and universities.We believe that Walker Career is Inspiring Kids and we look forward to sharing their stories, creations and more.

Sponsored by

LameraWalker Career Center

I am currently a senior here at Warren Central, and I plan on majoring in Telecommunications when I attend college. Like most seniors, finding the right school can be difficult. Throughout my search for the right college, I’ve found only a few that have the equipment and facilities that compare to what I have here at FrontRunner. Every time I visit a college, the faculty members are impressed by all the opportunities that I’ve experienced just in high school alone.FrontRunner is more than just getting students behind a camera. FrontRunner Media Production is getting students into a career. I’m taking steps towards a career sooner than most people my age.


COMMUNITYSponsored by

Not many high school students can say they’ve had the chance to shoot off campus assignments for actual clients, sometimes working with people who have years and years of experience. In FrontRunner Media Productions we are treated as professionals. We have clients who come in looking for professional work and we are challenged to not just meet their expectations, but to exceed them. Through FrontRunner I have been able to sharpen my craft and get more opportunities to grow. I’m able to be creative and put my idea’s to work. I find myself falling more interested in media productions. As I make the long walk down the halls everyday to the Front Runner studio, I know that I’m in store for something new when I get to class. I enjoy how my teacher asks questions that help expand my mind and allows me to think creatively. As a senior, I feel prepared for my next step in life. Through FrontRunner Media Production I have a chance to push myself to work like a professional. I definitely feel like I can have a successful career after what I’ve learned from my experiences in FrontRunner Media Productions.


KIDS CHANGE THE WORLD

Making a Difference

Anniversary

POCA

Project: gLOVE One AnotherSummary: If you see a need, fill it! That is the philosophy of Mariah Reynolds who saw her first opportunity to fill a need at the tender age of nine. As soon as she was old enough to realize that natural disasters wreak havoc on families and children, Mariah went to work to provide warm gloves, coats and school supplies for them. Funding initially came from garage sales and book sales she hosted. Now, Mariah credits her website and blog www.gloveoneanother.org <http://www.gloveoneanother.org> with helping her raise more than $120,000 in corporate sponsorships and individual donations from around the world. She has purchased over 2,000 backpacks, filled them, and delivered them personally to victims of Hurricane Sandy, the Moore, Oklahoma tornado and the floods in Boulder, Colorado. According to Mariah, “I believe that providing cold weather accessories and school supplies helps children stay healthy and become successful.”With her Power of Children award money, Mariah will seek 501c3 IRS tax- exempt status, and, in addition to providing needed provisions to children, she intends to run self-esteem seminars for teen girls.

The Children’s Museum recognizes youth that make significant contributions and create important projects to benefit others. The Power of Children Awards (POCA) were created in 2005 to align with the mission of The Children’s Museum. The awards were inspired by the museum’s influential permanent exhibit, The Power of Children: Making a Difference, which features three extraordinary children who touched the world in unique ways: Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White.Each recipient of the Power of Children Award will receive a $2,000 grant courtesy of the Kroger Foundation to continue his or her extraordinary work, a four-year post-secondary scholarship to a participating institution of higher learning: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, the University of Indianapolis, and Butler University and they will be recognized in the museum’s The Power of Children exhibit.Each award recipient will receive the following:A $2,000 grant to continue his or her extraordinary work.A four-year post-secondary scholarship to a participating institution of higher learning.Recognition in the museum’s The Power of Children exhibit for at least one year. This includes a video interview about their service project.The 2014 winners are featured here and were Honored and recognized during a special awards event on Nov. 7, 2014, at The Children’s Museum.


Project: Boxes of LoveSummary: In May 2011, a then ten-year old girl in Lincoln, Nebraska, was stunned by the devastation a tornado delivered 350 miles away in Joplin, Missouri. The sight of children who lost everything, some even their families, hit My’Kah hard. She saw the need for children to hold something of their own, something tangible. Immediately My’Kah’s shoe box business launched. A goal to fill 100 shoe boxes with toys, snacks and hygiene items was far surpassed. In three years, the young philanthropist has recruited over 100 volunteers who’ve helped fill over 3,000 boxes. The care packages, along with monetary donations to Ronald McDonald Houses in Joplin and Moore, Oklahoma (the site of a massive 2013 tornado) were possible because of $75,000 raised by Boxes of Love. “I believe my biggest impact is showing the kids that they are not alone and that there are other kids out there who really do care about them,” said My’Kah.My’Kah’s mission has expanded to help teachers restock classrooms with supplies following disasters and to send Boxes of Love to military men and women in Afghanistan.

Project: The Be ONE ProjectSummary: Imagine having to witness your younger brother being bullied. His brother’s suffering prompted Matthew Kaplan to take action. He decided to create an anti-bullying program for his school. After shadowing several existing programs, Matthew noticed that all of the programs focused on high school students. Matthew believes it is important to target younger children and he set out to establish a program for middle school students. As a result, he created The Be ONE Project and strives to educate 5th to 7th graders about peer pressure and bullying. Since its creation, The Be ONE Project, has spread across three states, taught more than 1,000 middle school students and 200 teacher participants, and has requests to appear in schools in Canada and Mexico. The program has interactive activities designed to create a community environment and allow students to share in their own past experiences. Matthew hopes to help students create an environment that is bully-free and has already touched the lives of several students. “I have received letters from students telling me how the Be ONE event helped make new friends and repair a broken friendship,” said Matthew.

POCA


POCA

Project: Kendra’s Call for KomfortSummary: There is nothing fashionable about hospital gowns, a fact well-known by Kendra Springs. In 2011, Kendra was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. The fashionista, facing several years of long hospital stays, had little in the way of fashionable, comfortable clothing to wear. In between treatments she went on a shopping adventure to find stylish, comfortable hospital wear along with plenty of games and activities to keep herself occupied. Soon thereafter, Kendra’s Call for Komfort was created.Kendra’s not-for-profit organization provides personalized care packages which include clothing, games, crafts and gift cards that can be used for shopping online, or even to fill the gas tank of travelling families. “Nurses often tell us how the mood in a room changes once a kid receives a care package. It can bring a little bit of happiness to a child who is scared or sad,” said Kendra.Multiple fundraisers have helped Kendra raise over $50,000. Some of the funding goes directly to pediatric hospitals for the purchase of special toy versions of medical equipment to help scared patients better understand their treatments.

Project: Game Changers Tackling HungerSummary: Isaac McFarland travels daily into an impoverished area of Shreveport to attend a top-rated magnet high school. He does not leave the neighborhood the way he found it. From the time Isaac entered high school he noticed the unkempt, hungry children he passed on his drive to class. His concern for those less fortunate children caused Isaac to found Game Changers Tackling Hunger. Said Isaac, “I believe in the power of one person impacting one life.” Isaac started small, supplying local homeless shelters with beef grown on his family farm. Soon he recruited thousands of fellow 4-H members, classmates, city leaders and junior cattlemen to collect or donate food or decorate tackle boxes for food delivery to individual homes and organizations.Together, Isaac and his posse have collected, packed and delivered more than six tons of food to pantries and homeless shelters. In response to Isaac’s pleas, local farmers raise fresh vegetables for his projects. And, his 26 “youth ambassadors” help him raise community gardens and teach over 12,000 classmates about the importance of healthy living.

Project: Tatum’s Bags of FunSummary: Scared, sad, sick and bored, that is often the day-to-day life of a child hospitalized weeks or months on end for cancer treatment. No one knows that better than Tatum Parker, a two-time cancer survivor. Following her first battle with cancer in 2008, Tatum sought to solve the boredom by creating gift bags for other young cancer patients. The highly anticipated bags became known as Tatum’s Bags of Fun. At a cost of about $350 each, Tatum stuffs backpacks with age-appropriate video games, toys, movies and crafts for young cancer patients hospitalized across the state of Indiana.Through a cancer relapse, Tatum continued to make her bags. “I have delivered smiles, laughter and hope to over 1,700 Indiana children fighting cancer by giving them a Bag of Fun,” said Tatum. She has help from young volunteers who comprise “The Kids’ Board.” The board hosts events such as dance marathons and fun runs/walks to fund Tatum’s Bags of Fun.

Here is a creative and imaginative resource designed

to help youth incorporate the spirit of generosity into

their everyday lives. Through characters, stories and

activities, giving and serving come alive in a way that is

fun & understandable!

Engage Your Youth In

Giving, Serving, and Leading!

Perfect for ages 4-11 and teen mentors!

© 2010 Indiana Grantmakers Alliance Foundation

© 2010 Indiana Grantmakers Alliance Foundation

a signature program of Indiana Grantmakers Alliance Foundation

a sign

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prog

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India

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w.ypin.org

August is back-to-school for many!

Some students don’t have the supplies they need to do well in class. Think about how you could help.

• Use your Conversation Starter Cards with school friends.

• Find 3 books you don’t read and donate them to a school.

• Help organize a Philanthropy Club at your school.

h e l paugust

• Pens• Pencils• Crayons• Markers• Spiral Notebooks• Pocket Folders•• Three-Ring Binder• Lined Paper• Small packet of tissues• Small bottle of sanitizer• Note to say “hi” & “good luck”

• Small containers of fruit• Small containers of pudding• Peanut butter & cracker packets• Fruit roll ups• Granola bars• Small boxes of cereal• Small containers of applesauce• Small containers of applesauce• Small containers of soup

This is what we put in our backpacks!

Maria & Jose think this could be a great activity for you and your family and PROVIDE a wonderful service to youth and families in need.You can pack a backpack with either school supplies to help

families with back-to-school costs, OR pack a backpack with non-perishable food items to help with weekend nourishment for families in need.

The Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana (YPII) is committed to creating effective tools to help incorporate philanthropy

into everyday living. We hope this Gift Box has been a helpful tool and that your family did hear the Call-to-Action!

and gave your time, talent, and treasure for the common good. YPII values and appreciates your feedback because it

helps us better prepare for future philanthropists. If you prefer to complete this information online, please go to

www.ypin.org (Family Philanthropy Page). Thank you for your time and sharing of your experiences.

Check all that your family did during the past two to three months.

[ ] We completed the Family Philanthropy Pledge Card.

[ ] We delivered at least two Giving Circle Tokens with an act of serving or giving. Estimated total given: ___

[ ] We did at least three of the Gift Box activities (card games, conversation starters, activity cards, graphic novel, etc.).

[ ] We participated in an event to raise money for a cause we support (or have a commitment to do so soon).

[ ] We donated something to an agency, organization, or person in need.

[ ] We visited the Family Philanthropy Page on YPII’s website at least one time (www.ypin.org).

[ ] We used the Monthly Calendar Reminders.

[ ] We did a Call-to-Action! as noted on our Monthly Calendar Reminders.

[ ] We volunteered at a nonprofit organization at least one time.

Our family members have a better understanding of what philanthropy means than they did before receiving this Gift Box.

Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree

(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Our family members are more aware of what philanthropy can mean to a community than they were before receiving this Gift Box.

Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree

(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Our favorite part of the Gift Box was: _________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

We, the __________________________ family, do hereby pledge to focus on philanthropy. In

the coming months,

we promise to listen for the Call-to-Action! and share more of our tim

e, talent, and treasure for the common good.

We do this because we want to make a positive difference in our world - as individuals and as a family.

Check all that your family will do together in the coming months. Write additional pledges on the blank lines, if desired.

[ ] As a family, w

e will deliver at least two Giving Circle Tokens with an act of serving or giving.

[ ] As a family, w

e will enjoy at least three Gift Box activities (card game, conversation starter, activity card, etc.).

[ ] As a family, w

e will participate in at least one event that raises money for a cause we support.

[ ] As a family, w

e will find at least three items in our home and donate them.

[ ] As a family, w

e will visit the Family Philanthropy Page on YPII’s website at least once a month (www.ypin.org).

[ ] As a family, w

e will use the Monthly Calendar Reminders and hear the Call-to-Action! throughout the year.

[ ] As a family, w

e will volunteer at a nonprofit organization at least one time.

[ ] As a family, w

e will return the Share Your Experiences Card to help make this Gift Box even better for future philanthropists.

[ ] As a family, w

e will _________________________________________________________________________.

[ ] As a family, w

e will _________________________________________________________________________.

On this date ____/____/_____ we hereby sign our Family Philanthropy Pledge.

______________________________________

Signature of Family Member

______________________________________


______________________________________


______________________________________


______________________________________


______________________________________


Ideal for Summer

after-school,

and faith-based

programming!

,

WWW.YPIN.ORG


Inspired by the new movie, directed by R.J. Cutler and starring Chloë Grace Moretz (have you guessed it yet?!), this month I will review If I Stay, a young adult novel written by Gayle Forman and one that really should make us all a little more thankful for all that we have in life. If I Stay, tells the tragic tale of Mia Hall, a 17 year-old girl who loses her family in a violent car accident. When she

wakes up after impact, she is aghast to find that she is in a coma. Mia truly has an out-of-body experience, while watching her best friend, family, and boyfriend, attempting to deal with the loss of Mia’s parents and younger brother, Teddy, as well as her own pending death. This book focuses on the idea of controlling one’s own destiny; what would you do if you could decide

whether to live or die? Would you live a life with no family? Or die and leave the boy you love behind? The most interesting feature of Gayle Forman’s style of writing and overall theme would be how much much it absorbs readers who can truly identify with various aspects of the book; a quirky girl who isn’t the most confident, the heartthrob boyfriend who provides a classic love story, but also- and most important- the ease with which readers can swap places with the heroine. I applaud Forman for her fluidity and storytelling technique, paired with a fascinating ability to keep Mia abstract enough so that any teenager could fill her shoes and take on her uphill battle. That being said, there were some issues I had with the structure of Mia’s ghostlike state. The most obvious of these flaws was that Mia couldn’t feel anything while

in between life and death. Obviously eliminating the physical pain while she wasn’t inside her body was a no-brainer, but I didn’t understand why the author chose to make her heroine void of any emotions at all. I think it would have greatly added to the story to have her process the accident along with the reader, but instead I just felt like Mia was cold and one dimensional, as out of the two of us, I was the only one who felt the loss of her family. This novel ended with a cliffhanger that I found myself anxious over. When I found out that there was a second book in the series, I was thrilled! Though this book wasn’t one of my favorite recent-reads, it is definitely a novel that I would recommend to any reader out there who enjoys a love story, intriguing main character, and plotline that asks deep questions.

If I Stay: what would you do if you had to choose?

Mady, 1510th Grade

International School of IndianaIndianapolis, IN

BOOK REVIEW


When I tell people that I am majoring in Philanthropic Studies, one of two things happens. The first is that they stare blankly at me with a look of confusion on their face (it is understandable since only one school in the entire world offers that degree) and the other thing that happens is a ton of questions come flying at me. What is Philanthropic Studies? So you are going to work for a nonprofit, does that mean you are not going to make any money? Don’t you have to be a millionaire like Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg to be a philanthropist? To answer the first question, Philanthropic Studies uses many other fields of study including economics, political science, history, philosophy, religion, literature, psychology, and ethics (to name a few) to look at all of the ways people give their time, talent, and treasure to make the world a better place. If you want a longer explanation on Philanthropic Studies, you can visit the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s website at www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.The second question has an easy response, YES! Yes, I will be making money working for a nonprofit. Nonprofit organizations have expenses like businesses. The simple difference between a business and a nonprofit organization is that businesses distribute their annual profit to shareholder (owners of the company) while nonprofit organizations use their profits (often generated from fund development and services) to pay for their operating costs and programs while attempting to make the world a better place.The answer to the final question is that it is true that Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are very famous philanthropists. They give away millions

of dollars annually to causes that they are passionate about. The good part about being a philanthropist is that anyone, I repeat ANYONE, can be a philanthropist. I donate my time to a student organization here on campus, so that makes me a philanthropist. I am also very talented at using technology, so I help a nonprofit organization maintain their Facebook page, so that makes me a philanthropist. I also donate money annually to the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana to help support their programming, which also makes me a philanthropist. So to be clear, you do not have to be a millionaire to be a philanthropist. I would make an argument that the best philanthropists are those that are not millionaires, but those people that care an awful lot about their community and work very hard to make it a better place. So if you are looking to be a philanthropist, you really do not have to look that far. You can do something to help your local community starting now.You can start a canned food drive for a local food bank, go to the animal shelter with a group of your friends to help play with and walk the dogs, or you could take a trip to the local nursing home to visit with some of the residents. There is no secret formula for how you become a philanthropist, all that is required is just a little bit of your time, talent, or treasure (money) to make the world a better place.So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start making the world a better place!

Philanthropy…Just Not For Millionaires

COLTON’S CORNER

Colton, 20Senior

Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI

Indianapolis, IN

Sponsored by

Colton’s Corner is a page dedicated to providing a spotlight on youth philanthropy. Stories will include how young people are getting involved in their community, ways you can make a difference, and personal stories/reflections from Colton himself. Philanthropy is awesome, because everyone can work on making a positive change in their community. Colton hopes to inspire you with his stories, and the stories of others, so you can go out and be a young changemaker yourself (if you’re not already well on your way).

www.readinspiredmag.org Express Yourself 41

/InspiredKidsIndy /inspiredkidmag42 Inspired

Akil Newton is a senior at Pike High School and President of the Pike Chapter of the Business Professionals of American (BPA). As a leader of the BPA organization, Akil was instrumental in conceptualizing, planning and facilitating the student track for the “Striving for Excellence” a community event held at the Pike Freshman Center on Saturday, November 1, 2014. The Business Professionals of America is the leading (CTSO Career Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. Indiana BPA has close to 2,700 members in over 90 chapters.“Striving for Excellence” is an Annual (IPA) Fall Fundraising event, organized with the area community students and adults in mind. The adult track was planned and coordinated by The Indianapolis Professional Association (IPA), and included workshops on

the topics of Organizational Success and Starting a Business; while the student track, which was planned and coordinated by the students of BPA included workshops facilitated by students on the topics of: Basic Personal Computer Repair, Student Entrepreneurship and Women’s Empowerment in the 21st Century. As President of the BPA Pike Chapter, Akil enjoyed being a part of the committee and taking part in the actual planning and executing of a community event. “This experience was something I’ve never done. Volunteering was fun and this was my first experience doing a community event with a professional organization. It was a lot of fun and the entire idea was a great thing” said Akil. Upon graduation Akil wants to attend either Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta Georgia, or Indiana University in Bloomington, where he plans to major in Business and eventually do Business Consulting. In his spare time he likes gaming, repairing and upgrading computers and playing basketball.To find out more or to help support the student activities at the Pike Chapter of the Business Professionals of America, please contact Mr. Justin R. Smith [email protected]

POWER OF PHILANTHROPY CONTEST NOVEMBER WINNER

What is Philanthropy? Philanthropy is simply voluntary action for the public good, or all the ways that people give of their time, talent and treasure. We are looking for submissions from high school students surrounding your experiences with community service, social justice, fundraising, giving, and/or any other way you have made a difference in the lives of others. We will accept poems, narratives, photographs, art work, videos, etc. around the theme of philanthropy. Submissions from October through April can be sent to [email protected] IU Lilly Family School or Philanthropy is offering a scholarship to the winner of the contest in the amount of $1500 annually for four years. The third monthly winner of this contest is Akil Newton, a senior at Pike High School.


LiLLy famiLy schooL of phiLanthropyImproving Philanthropy to Improve the World

www.philanthropy.iupui.edu

The time I spent in the military opened my eyes to the importance of serving one’s community.

Bringing forward the values and principles the Marine Corps instilled in me has only enhanced my committment of service to my own community. I felt like I was being called to give back, so the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s programs are a great fit for me.”

-Greg, B.A. student and former Marine

Make your passion

your profession

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AT IUPUI

We have been overwhelmingly pleased with the caliber of the professionals we acquire when we hire IU School of Education at IUPUI graduates.

Newly hired teachers and administrators from IUPUI immediately demonstrate their deep acumen of pedagogical theory and practice and constructively contribute to the effectiveness of our learning community.

Simply put, they are exceedingly well prepared and demonstrate a passion for the art and science of teaching.

Concetta A. Raimondi, Ed.D.Former Superintendent (2009-2013) Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

The Indiana University School of Education at IUPUI is committed to urban education and your success.

Learn more about our transformational teacher education programs.

Our advisors can help you get started.Call us at 317.274.6801.

education.iupui.edu

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