One act of compassion sparked a legacy… Sparrow Clubs USA

                                      THE BEGINNING:

In 1992, six-month-old Michael Leeland desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. With no way to pay for the procedure, Michael’s parents, Jeff and Kristi, didn’t know where to turn. Jeff taught a class where Dameon, a big-hearted kid, was a student. After hearing his teacher’s dilemma, Dameon emptied his bank account, offering to donate his entire savings—$60. A chain reaction of giving followed. Students and staff raised an incredible $227,000 over four short weeks, and Michael ultimately received his life-saving transplant. Four years after Dameon’s gift, Sparrow Clubs was born using a simple service model that ignites compassion and empathy in school children across the U.S.

                                                    ABOUT SPARROW CLUBS USA

Sparrow Clubs not only provides financial and emotional support for children in medical need and their families, but also empowers kids (elementary to college age) to help others through charitable service in their communities. The Sparrow Clubs program teaches life lessons in compassion and selflessness through building relationships between a Sparrow family, a school student body, and our community. Sick kids get help, healthy kids become heroes and communities experience change.

A SPARROW

A Sparrow is a child in substantial medical need; referred by a hospital, social worker or community member.

A SPARROW CLUB SCHOOL

A Sparrow Club involves a group of students or an entire school wanting to make a difference in the lives of others who come together to serve your community in order to help a Sparrow child! A Sparrow Project begins once a school and a project sponsor are found and matched with a child. A Sparrow Project cannot happen without a business sponsor(s). When a full sponsorship of $4060 is secured the Sparrow Project can begin.

Once students learn about their Sparrow child, they are challenged to make a difference through community service. Each school is challenged to complete a minimum of 256 hours of community service to others, on behalf of their Sparrow. For every hour of service completed (up to the 256 challenge mark), kids earn $10 for their Sparrow, paid by the project sponsor. Project sponsors donate this money based on the expectation that the students will do service to earn it for their Sparrow. Additional fundraising for your school is not required, as we focus on service learning. However, many schools choose to do additional fundraising for their Sparrow Family but these funds must be placed in the family’s Sparrow account. These funds of $2560 are then accessed by the family to assist with medical expenses and basic needs.

Students are required to fill out Sparrow Community Service Vouchers after they have completed hours of community service. The vouchers are later given to the Sparrow Family as a gift. These vouchers not only show how their child inspired students to serve in their community but contain heartfelt responses that the Sparrow can treasure forever.

                                                                    Visit www.sparrowclubs.org

Corbett Schools Partnering with

Sparrow Clubs USA

We are excited to bring this amazing opportunity for our students to experience. This Sparrow Project will begin by launching through Corbett Middle School. Sparrow Clubs exists to set the stage for simple, yet heroic acts of kindness in schools and youth culture, through the concept of kids helping kids in medical need.  Sparrow Clubs exists to empower and motivate kids and young people of all ages to come to the aid of local children struggling with medical need.

ALL youth deserve acceptance and compassion in a school environment, the need to know their lives matter, and that they have the power to impact the lives of others in a positive way. The Sparrow Clubs program provides youth, including those with disabilities, opportunities to discover their value through participation in service-learning. The ultimate goal of Sparrow Clubs is to impact youth culture by imprinting compassion, generosity, and integrity on the hearts of kids in schools. Sparrow Clubs believes that compassion can overcome anger, that generosity can overcome selfishness, and that integrity can overcome apathy. The Sparrow Clubs program compels and motivates kids of all ages to look beyond themselves for the sake of serving others in need – not only the family of a child in medical need, but others throughout our communities.

We are currently looking for the following:

• Students to apply help run Corbett’s Sparrow Project

• Businesses and individuals to sponsor Corbett’s Sparrow Project

• Community members to offer community service for students

• Parent Volunteers to help when fundraising or events occur

• Donations in any amount to Sparrow Clubs USA (Corbett Sparrow)

Stay tuned for updates as we begin this journey as a Corbett Community!

Please contact:

Victoria Hubler at Corbett Middle School   vhubler@corbett.k12.or.us

Jean King at Corbett High School  jking@corbett.k12.or.us
Laura Queen: Sparrow Clubs USA Portland Program Director  LQueen@sparrowclubs.org   971.401.6204