The Green Bay Packers and Brown County United Way have awarded several Wisconsin middle school student groups with Character Playbook Community Impact Grants to help develop service projects that directly impact their school, neighborhood or community.
Student groups, under the guidance of a Wisconsin school or nonprofit organization, were invited to develop a service project that would help their school, neighborhood or surrounding community and submit a proposal for the project. The pool of applicants had the opportunity to present the group's project idea to select Green Bay Packers, Character Playbook and Brown County United Way representatives in order to receive a grant.
Groups selected have received grant awards up to $500 through funds from the NFL Social Responsibility Grant to help fund implementation of the project. The projects receiving support include:
- Students involved with the PCMS #RaiderStrong Courtyard in the Pulaski Community School District will develop the space at the center of the building at PCMS into an outdoor learning, reading and activity space with seating.
- Warming Hearts in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District will see the sixth grade class at Birnamwood Middle School making blankets and packages with basic food and toiletry items for the local soup kitchen.
- Sustaining our Community from Story School in the Milwaukee Public School District will create public messages of kindness and respect with an art installation to be mounted on the outward facing fence.
- Caring Neighbor Mindful Kits from Glen Hills Middle School in the Glendale-River Hills School District will connect with senior citizens with kits that provide seniors with tools and tips to stay mentally healthy and resilient, as well as student artwork aimed at spreading kindness.
- Service Learning Projects from Seymour Middle School in the Seymour Community School District will feature eighth grade students participating in random acts of kindness, including providing treats, ornaments and care boxes for those in need or those who are serving the community.
- Addressing Violence and Racism in our Community from Rufus King International Middle School in the Milwaukee Public School District will share videos of interviews with local inspirational leaders and activists and post messages on flyers and yard signs in the community.
- Virtual "BLAST Peer Squad" from Shattuck Middle School in the Neenah Joint School District will include student leaders reaching out to peers and elementary students who have been struggling during COVID-19, from tutoring to reading partners and mentoring.
- Community Virtual Intergenerational Touchdown Dance Party from Jerstad Agerholm School in the Racine Unified School District will connect local nursing home residents with middle school students by developing a virtual interactive dance event, using technology to connect those who can't be together in person during this time.
- Students from West Milwaukee Intermediate School in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District will work to build an outdoor classroom with tables and a covering so kids can learn outside and take mask breaks.
- Through Shelter Care Packages from Brillion Middle School in the Brillion Public School District students will make blankets and care packets for children who arrive at a domestic abuse shelter, which will include mindfulness activity items and a comfort toy.
Each group selected has a project supervisor who will help guide the students in their project and to serve as the communication liaison with the Packers and Brown County United Way. The projects should all follow the current Wisconsin Department of Health Services and CDC recommendations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and be complete by the end of the school year.
