Issue #40 | June 2021
Hello Changemakers - from all of us here at United Way Youth Venture/Changemaking and the Portrait of a Graduate team. Happy Summer!

Our Elementary and Middle School Venture Teams have made great headway this month, with many finishing up fundraisers and projects!

We are proud to announce the recipients of the UWYV Scholarships are Estelle Arseneau, Anderson Dallaire and Devon Smith! This year's recipients are beyond impressive and extremely deserving of their scholarships and recognition. Read more about them, below.

We are also working hard to get videos and livestreams of our Healthy Minds Conference put up on our website, so check back for updates on that!

~the United Way Youth Venture Team!
Reingold Roadrunners, Reingold Elementary School

This Venture Team launched at the end of May, and they are already in action! Mr. Wironen and his team of 4th graders decided to partner with Ginny's Helping Hand and they placed bins at the entrance of their school to gather new socks and toiletries. They have collected 651 pieces to donate to Ginny's Helping Hand! The team made their donation last week.

Thank you to Champion Mr. Wironen and the Reingold Roadrunners as they continue to help out their community and Ginny's Helping Hand!
South Street Changemakers, South Street Elementary School

Students at South Street Elementary School wanted to raise money to be able to purchase beds, toys, and food for a local animal shelter.

To raise these funds, these students decided to tape their principal, Ms. Crowell, to a wall! By selling strips of duct tape, South Street Changemakers were able to raise $925 for their cause! This school- wide event made fundraising fun and collaborative, and when Ms. Crowell's stool was removed from under her, she was stuck to the wall!

Last week, a check of $925 was presented to the Fitchburg- Leominster Animal Control Center to help lost animals. Congratulations to the South Street Changemakers and their Champion Mrs. Roberts for a successful fundraiser!
McKay Arts Academy

Students at McKay Arts Academy had a couple of different events happening this month!

Students at McKay were invited to join a school-wide kindness initiative organized by the 6th grade. Students who were "caught" being kind were given kindness coupons. The class with the most coupons won a prize! This kindness initiative helped save a fledging cardinal by taking him out of harm's way and brought back to his nest!

Students of the 5th and 6th grades decided to help clean up their local park, Coolidge Park! The students picked up trash and made the place a bit more beautiful. What an amazing show of kindness!

A big round of applause to the entire 6th grade and their Champion, Mrs. Carnabucci, for getting their school involved and contributing to some great acts of kindness!
Estelle Arseneau, Fitchburg High School.

Estelle has participated in many sports and school musicals, and she served as Vice President and as Secretary of her class. In her spare time she volunteers regularly and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is an original member of the Current Events Club, and now President of the Venture Team. Her team hosts fundraisers and events to improve the community and school. She will attend Merrimack College to study Biology with a pre-dental track. We were honored to present Estelle with the Bob Chauvin Leadership Award for $2,000! Congratulations, Estelle!
Anderson Dallaire, Leominster High School
At Leominster High School, Anderson was involved in Student Council, Students for Transparency, and he played many sports. He is an active volunteer and an eagle scout as well, finishing his Scout project recently by building a shed for the middle school!

Anderson has been part of Holiday Spreaders for six years. Their mission is visit the Alzheimer's Unit at Leominster Crossing Assisted Living facility. They visit once a month to engage the residents with different activities.

He has led a life of service and will continue as he enters Westfield State University studying Special Education. It was an honor to present him with the United Way Youth Venture $1,000 Scholarship! Congratulations, Anderson!
Devon Smith , Leominster High School
Devon Smith is part of the Venture Team Holiday Spreaders, and works side by side with Anderson and the other members of the Holiday Spreaders Team.

Devon is Vice President of the National Honor Society at LHS. He is also a member of Student Council, GIVE and plays goalie for the boys Lacrosse Team. Devon is an eagle scout and participates regularly in Veteran services. He volunteers each summer at a local camp, Creative Choices. He plans to study Sports Management at UMASS Amherst this fall. We were proud to present Devon with the United Way Youth Venture $1,000 Scholarship! Congratulations, Devon!
Thank you,
Healthy Minds Sponsors!
Changemakers



Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Community Collaborator
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 official blog!