Barbara Hirsch Bass Scholarship/Fellowship Description of Lifelong Commitment to Social Services Throughout my life I have always had this deep seeded drive within my veins to empower and strengthen individuals. As a young child I was taught about the challenges, oppressions, and inequalities that countless individuals battle with through the teachings of my parents. Coming from an extremely supportive and caring family, my parents made sure that my siblings and I knew that not all individuals were as lucky as we. My parents instilled values and ethics within my siblings and I that influenced us to aid others less fortunate then us. Even as a young child, I did all that I could to help those who had less than I. At the young age of seven I can recall running around my house and cutting off all the box tops that were stamped onto our General Mills cereal boxes because I knew that those box tops meant that a child less fortunate than I would receive school items that they did not own. …show more content…
When I reached high school I developed an Improv group by the name of The Stray Dogs in order to raise money for our hometown non-kill animal shelter, Lake County Animal Shelter. The shelter had recently made a statement how they were low on funds and unable to take in any more animals due to their supplies were almost nonexistent. Through putting on Improv shows a few peers and I were able to raise over $8,000 dollars and scout countless volunteers for the shelter throughout the course of four years. All of the money we made throughout doing four years worth of shows went directly to the shelter in order to empower, support, and strengthen the wellbeing of the animals and
This goes to show that with guts and determination, those who are desperate enough to bring about a change, are the ones who are able to utilize what they have to get what they desire. Poverty, addiction and abuse are major obstacles that individuals from rough background face on their way to success. Moreover, it is their education and their ability to utilize their talents, as well as having the audacity to chase their ambitions incessantly, that helps them utilize and exploit the opportunities that open up for them.
There are many people that can’t have what you do. When you sit there and think about how poor you are and how much you don’t have you should really be thinking of the people that have even less. Linda Sue Parks was one of the people that did and she wrote a book called A Long Walk to Water which is a true story. In the novel there is a young boy named Salva Dut. Salva Dut was an 11 year old boy who was separated from his family because of a school shooting. This happened in Sudan which is now South Sudan because of war. In hopes that he finds his family again he will walk and walk everyday. Salva also faces many challenging things while he’s walking such as finding food and water, avoiding gunmen, and wild animals. Salva had a lot of accomplishments on his way too like leading 1500 lost boys of Sudan to a refugee camp by the Gilo River, then he goes to America seven years later and lives with a family in New York, and he finds his father many years later and starts a group called Water
In 10th grade, I made a club with my sister called "TPF Rangers Club" to support the Theodore Payne Foundation. Like I mentioned in the previous response, TPF is a non-profit organization that serves to preserve California native plants and I have been volunteering there since 9th grade. One time I saw an article that they are seeking funds to build a new nursery because the current nursery was too small to hold all types of native plants. I was depressed that they barely have any support. As the president of the TPF Rangers Club, I believed that we should give financial support and thus planned a fundraiser for the foundation that will at least help them to buy more plants or new tools to use for gardening. The club as a whole designed a tote bag and sold them in school, Ralph's, and even at churches. As a result, we made a total of $280 and we donated all the money to the foundation. I as a leader participated in all the
What I came up with was doing a fundraiser for an individual that was from Macomb, IL and had went to Kibera, Africa to serve the needs of the people. My vision was to raise money for the children of the community to provide them with housing, education, and food. I did not want this to be a me thing but to get the campus involved with something bigger then themselves. I got University Union Board, Inter-Hall Council, Resident Assistant Council, Western All Volunteer Effort, Kappa Alpha Psi, and Alpha Phi Omega to co-sponsor this fundraiser that raise over $1,400 that provide the children we sponsor for six months of education, housing, and food. I have truly spent my last three years serving and being a great leader to this campus due to me believing someone has to step up and lead the way for
During the [Project Wisdom] program, my principal tells us a quote then he goes on to explain it. For example, he would say, "Danny Thomas once said, 'Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others." This quote hit me like a thunderbolt. I was constantly thinking about it. Then I saw homeless people while I was walking home from school. I thought of nothing but the quote, so as I got closer to the homeless people, I pulled out my wallet and gave them a ten dollar bill. The feeling I got when the homeless people looked at me is indescribable. After this experience, almost every time someone is in need of something, I give or at least try to give them what they need because of the self-content it brings me. The "Words of Wisdom" program made a difference in my life by helping me discover that it feels good to serve others.
I have seen first hand what poverty is, and I want life for those people to change. Because I am good with my hands, building should be of no trouble for me. In Haiti, I loved to play with the carpenter's tools; making small cabinets or door and more. I have volunteered before with a home rebuilding organization. We demolished an old home in order to prepare it for renovation. Thinking back to it now, these things brought me joy. Not the simple act of service, but specifically using my hands to bring change. I think that is why I am motivated to help out with Habitat for Humanity. Also, my friend has a yearly summer commitment to help build homes for the homeless that I find most intriguing. He posts pictures on Facebook, and I admire them thinking to myself how awesome it would be if I could do that.
My favorite service project was my silver award for girl scouts. Before Jamie Lince, Faith Brown, and I did the silver award the hoophouse by the elementary school was very rundown. There were holes in the plastic, weeds in the beds, and the wood chips in the aisles were worn down. The hoophouse couldn’t be used. We wanted to fix that problem. First we applied for grants. I never knew how many steps or how much time this would take. It really taught me how to handle deadlines so things get turned in on time. It also taught me that there are people that want to support you, and you just need to find them. The two grants that we received were a Lowes grant for fifteen-hundred dollars and a seed grant from Van Atta’s. The second step was to get people to help weed out the beds so we could plant the seeds we got from the grant. This took a few hours and a lot of people from the community showed up to help. The Lowes grant was used for the plastic that goes on the outside of the hoophouse and new wood chips for the aisles in the hoophouse. We had to have the help of Mr. Montry who makes hoop house...
One of our deepest needs as humans is to be valued. The need to be needed is often more powerful than the need to survive. Every one of us has a deep longing to write our signature on the world. As individuals, we are each equipped with unique gifts and talents to share with our family, our community, and our world. Nelson Mandela once said, "As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." When we open ourselves to become all that we were created to be, we allow those around us to be themselves, empowering them to be a unique individual and to use the talents they possess. It doesn't matter if we are brilliant, beautiful, or incredibly charismatic. We can make a difference by just being who we are. We simpl...
Personally, having family members under the poverty line has open my eyes to the social oppression, income inequality, and challenges others like them face in todays society. For years I have been aware of income inequality in America and aspire to participating in the break down of disparity of income. I want to help give people of all color, culture, origin, and financial backgrounds a chance to live there dreams without fear or struggle of finance. My goal is to help make a world where opportunity is based on merit and no longer slaved to the sovereign of money. For these reasons, I choose to focus on politics and law to aspire to change the world for the better.
Largely influenced by my mother, I grew up having a reinforced concern for others. When I was younger, I was mostly confused about my mother’s passion of helping others, but watching her over the years as she selflessly carries out this cause made me realize that she does it to the glory of God. My principle worldview is that all the things we do should be done to the glory
Being involved in many community organizations, I have assisted people from all walks of life.. For example, one week I volunteered at a senior bingo night at a retirement home facility, and the next week, I wrote letters to our troops. The National Honor Society has also given me the opportunity to give back to my own school. Last year, our organization did a gardening project in my school's courtyard revitalizing the landscape
Since I was in the first grade, I have been a part of the Girl Scouts, which has caused me to make a positive difference in my community. Participating in Girl Scouts has enabled me to engage in many fundraisers and charity events. While I was a part of scouting every year around Christmas time my troop and I would set up an event feeding the homeless at a local church. Serving and talking to different men and women caused me to reflect on my life and made me realize that I should be more grateful for what I have. My life is not as hard as others, and it is nice to give back to those who deserve
For instance, it was an extremely sunny day in Ghana, West Africa, and I had gone out to the well to fetch water. It was while carrying the bucket of water on my way back that I noticed my neighbor’s children fighting over the insufficient amount of food that they had to share. My family and I were not rich but from what I saw, I knew that we were better off than other people I knew. I carried the bucket of water inside the house and came back outside to call the two youngest children that were fighting over the last grain of food. I shared my food my food with them and though it was not sufficient for all, feeding the younger ones alone was better than not helping any one of them at all. There was only little that I could possibly do but by sharing, I had helped them in a great way, even if it was just for the time being.
One of my mentors was able to show me life outside of poverty. They showed me doors of possibilities and started a fire in my heart that would set a blaze of zeal. Going from a life of no direction or goals to having a vision for my life and wanting to purse a better life for my future has done a lot for me. It’s important to help everyone in their current situation because you never know what the outcome will be for that individual. Not everyone has the ability and drive to get out of their current situation. Sometime people don’t want to change from their current situation. For me it was simple I wanted more for myself, I’m glad I made the choice to do something about it. It’s had a lasting effect on my life. My wife and two girls will never know poverty because of my life decision that I made. Making sure I got out of that environment and wanting something better in
I also had the privilege of helping with the Meals on Wheels non profit organization. My grandfather used to be a Meals on Wheels recipient and he would share with me how he enjoyed looking forward to their company and a hot meal daily. I volunteered because I wanted to give back and help someone else’s loved one in the same way. It was very rewarding delivering hot meals to people who didn’t have the means of getting one as well as being there for them to talk to. Overall, it was a very humbling experience, it made me realize just how blessed I am and how much I take for granted daily.