Issue #21 | June 2019
Happy June! Happy Summer! School is O U T!

We had a very busy month - - launching a whopping 28 Venture Teams! We will miss seeing the Venturers' excitement as they prepare for Panels and their joy when they learn they have been approved to launch as official Youth Venture Teams. We are extremely proud of ALL of the 64 Venture Teams that launched this year and equally proud of ALL Venturers who participated in Youth Venture.

Please click here to learn about ALL the Youth Venture Teams. Here's to all our young Changemakers!

We wish to extend a special thank you to the 115 people who generously gave their time and shared their wisdom as panelists for these Venture Teams to present their ideas. We appreciate you all very much!

Our elementary school Venture Teams sure were busy this month. Read what they've been up to, below.

We hosted 3rd and 4th graders from Crocker Elementary School on Clean Energy Day, June 3. The students learned about clean energy, sustainability and facts about the MWCC wind turbines.

We had a GREAT time at Wachusett Mountain Ski Resort for our Celebration of Changemakers co-hosted by MWCC with Fitchburg and Leominster Public Schools. The evening was lots of fun, starting with a serene sky ride up and down the mountain and ending with the revealing of a video of Fitchburg and Leominster students talking about why they value their Changemaker teachers, it was definitely an evening to remember. 

The Celebration showcased numerous projects some of our Changemaker teachers have been working on this year, and a magazine detailing every project and area of transformation for our Changemakers. Vipin Thekk, Lauren Mountain, and Rachel Vargeletis all spoke at the event, thanking everyone for their efforts and congratulating them on such an amazing school year. The Granite Room of the ski lodge was filled with smiles and laughs the entire evening. MWCC President, Jim Vander Hooven, Senator Stephen Brewer, Representative Natalie Higgins, and Mayor Stephen DiNatale joined the teachers, administrators and community members in making the evening extra special. The event marked the end of another amazing year of Changemaking in North Central MA leaving everyone eager and excited about what next year will hold.

As always, we appreciate you and thank you for your continued support!

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!
A group of spirited 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students at Crocker Elementary 21st Century program created a Penny War fundraiser to help the Fitchburg/Leominster Animal Control Officer

The fundraiser was across both Crocker and St. Anthony campuses and the students presented their $841.86 check to Todd Pickett and Julie Busa at the 21st Century Year End Celebration.
The Northwest Animal Activists held a duct tape fundraiser at their school in May. For a small donation, fellow students and staff had the opportunity to duct tape their principals to the wall. Naturally, most wanted in on the action! In June, the team made a visit to the Gardner Animal Shelter where they toured the facility, bonded with the kittens, played outside with two of the dogs, and most importantly, donated their check for $933 to help the shelter and its animals.
The Toy Town Team located at Toy Town Elementary School recently made a donation to Sarah Richards at the Gardner Animal Facility. The team collected two bins of supplies such as; dog food, toys, dog dishes, leashes and collars. In addition to the donation of supplies, the team hosted a Scooby Doo graham cracker and fruit snack sale during lunches. From this sale, the team was able to donate $360.00 to the facility as well!
South Street Elementary School Mini-Venture Team donated over 20 (overflowing) boxes and bags with new or gently used warm winter clothing items to the Family Resource Center/MOC in Fitchburg. They delivered the items and director, Migdalia Velez, thanked them with an ice cream and cake party where she told them exactly how these donations were going to have a positive impact for their peers and community members. Each student was then given a certificate recognizing their amazing service.
MWCC hosted 3rd and 4th graders from Crocker Elementary School on Clean Energy Day, June 3. The students learned about clean energy, the importance of sustainability as well as facts about the MWCC wind turbines. The students heard from Mass CEC CEO, Stephen Pike; Mass CEC staff, Tameka Jacques; special guest speaker on offshore wind energy, Jennifer Cullen of Vineyard Wind; and MWCC’s own Bob LaBonte, vice president of finance and administration. Mr. LaBonte spoke in detail about the experience of overseeing the 2011 installation of the two 1.65 MW turbines on the college campus, fielding dozens of excited questions from students on the scale and scope of the project, how wind energy works, and importance of being good neighbors. The highlight of the field trip was undoubtedly the actual tour, where the more than 200 students not only got to see a taste of college life, but spontaneously began “jumping rope” over the roving shadow of the turbine’s blades on the ground.
We are super proud of the 28 Venture Teams that launched this month! Congratulations to all!
African Lives Matter, Sky View Middle School

4 the Paws, Sky View Middle School

Homeless Animal Helpers, Crocker Elementary School

Rays of Sunshine, Gardner High School

Dream Helpers, Longsjo Middle School

Life Savers, Longsjo Middle School

Water Savers, Longsjo Middle School

Helping Out the Homeless, Samoset Middle School

Give a Pet a Paw, Samoset Middle School

Operation Flushed, Murdock Middle School

Plan Z, Murdock Middle School

Angel Pets, Sky View Middle School

Animal Savers, McKay Arts Academy

Save the Seals, McKay Arts Academy
Go for Kids, Sky View Middle School

Cheer for Cats, Sky View Middle School

Love is Not a Choice, Sky View Middle School

Axolotl Planet, Sky View Middle School

Cookie_Pawz, McKay Arts Academy

Save the Homeless, McKay Arts Academy

Fight Cancer, McKay Arts Academy

Child Caring Society, McKay Arts Academy

Shelter for Animals, McKay Arts Academy

Team Hunger, McKay Arts Academy

Baking for a Cause, McKay Arts Academy

Anti-Bullying Squad, McKay Arts Academy

Mental Health Helpers, McKay Arts Academy

Project Volleyball Club, Sky View Middle School
Interested in writing for the official UWYV blog? Our audience wants to hear from YOU!

The Venturer Voice blog seeks students, Champions, Allies and community contributors to write pieces for our new official blog!

Do you have a UWYV story (or idea, event, news item) that you would like to see featured in YV Monthly?