2017 Community Impact Report

SACRED HEART MODEL SCHOOL SENDS SOME L VE TO VETERANS (& OTHER ACTS OF SERVICE) WEDAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 07 Contents / COMMUNITY IMPACT / 2017

EDITOR THE WE DAY Wendy Sirchio KY STORY WRITERS James Moses P. 02 Kris Sirchio Wendy Sirchio ON THE COVER Students from Sacred Heart Academy show their PHOTOGRAPHERS VALENTINES for VETERANS James Moses PHOTOGRAPHY Chip Dumstorf James Moses Mary Beth Brown

P. 06 COPY EDITOR Lakin Pack STORIES OF IMPACT A few shining examples of amazing young people DESIGN “ in the Joe Weber, Reba Bangasser, Alex Dumstorf, Living WE” Bisig Impact Group Commonwealth

PUBLISHER P. 14 WE Day WE DAY KY IMPACT 20 Making a real difference, seeing real results

WE Day Community Kentucky is an event that inspires and celebrates the work of P. 20–21 thousands of young people across the state of Kentucky. This event strives to OUR 2020 VISION be a community role model showcasing Our path forward the accomplishments of today’s change-makers and leaders. P. 22–23

For more information, visit WeDayKY.org SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS & TEAM Because WE Day Community Kentucky is truly a group effort

02 WEDAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WEDAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 07 WE Day was created in 2006 by WE, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to empowering a generation to shift the world from “ME” to “WE;” from a focus on the individual to the power of community. Co-founded by Craig and Marc Kielburger with a focus on education and empowerment in our local and global communities, WE is revolutionizing how we help young people fulfill their potential as active citizens and leaders to help make the world a better place.

Today WE Day takes place in 18 major cities across three countries (Canada, U.S., UK). First introduced to the U.S. in 2013, WE Day is now a growing platform in Washington State, California, Minnesota, Illinois, New York and Kentucky.

THE WE DAY KENTUCKY MOVEMENT EVERY YOUNG PERSON HAS THE Wendy and Kris Sirchio first met Craig Kielburger and Spencer POTENTIAL AND THE POWER TO West at a speaking event in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2012. Their message was inspiring; a perfect fit to Louisville’s title of POSITIVELY CHANGE THE WORLD “most compassionate city in America.” Later that year, under an acacia tree in Kenya, Craig, Wendy and Kris created a new a We believe in supporting this potential by connecting today’s dream, the dream to bring WE Day to Kentucky. students to the greatest local and global issues of our time. We believe in bringing a generation together by proving With the support of community leaders and founding partners that no one is alone in their desire for change. We believe in from the , The Kentucky YMCA Youth celebrating the actions of young people and inspiring them to Association, and The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, redefine what is possible. together with a dedicated, passionate Steering Committee, this dream has become a reality. What started in the first year with 20 schools and 175 students has now five years later become WHAT IS WE DAY? WE Day Community: Kentucky. It was officially recognized as the first WE Day platform built in the U.S. from the ground up, one Youth coming together to make the world a better place is school at a time. This new “Community” designation connects THE the global movement of our time. Young people today need a our local movement to the overall Global WE organization, starting point and WE Day is that starting point. opening access to the full menu of free educational resources, along with WE Day talent and production support. In short, it WE Day brings together world-renowned speakers, leaders, enables us to build a long-term sustainable WE Day platform WE DAY and performers with thousands of youth in stadium-sized events without the burden of fund raising for stadium-size events. It to kick-start a year of service and action. You can’t buy a ticket enables us to be local while being connected to the world’s to WE Day; you earn it through service by leading one local and largest youth empowerment organization. one global service action. Today, WE Day Kentucky now connects over 300 schools, KY STORY More than a one-day event, WE Day helps young people turn representing two-thirds of all counties in the state of Kentucky the day’s inspiration into sustained action. WE Day inspires and over 30,000 students. These students contribute over young people to find their spark in order to create the positive 300,000 service hours annually, creating approximately $5 change they want to see. Together, WE Day and student- million in incremental social value for their communities and led service projects provide a blueprint to support the next global projects. And WE Day Kentucky is now the official Youth generation to become active and engaged citizens. Kick-off to the Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer’s annual “Give-A- Day” Week of Service.

Learn more at WeDayKY.org

2 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 3 WHY IS WE DAY SO IMPORTANT FOR KENTUCKY?

We all understand education is vital to successful, engaged citizenship. Data in Canada and the U.S. show that students who have participated in the WE Day movement graduate at higher rates, consistently volunteer their time, donate funds to non-profits, and vote at twice the national average. In short, they are more likely to become active citizens, committed to making a positive change.

We believe that Kentucky and Kentucky’s youth will flourish with WE Day!

WE DAY KENTUCKY – 2017

On April 18th, the fifth annual WE Day Kentucky event took place in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. A capacity crowd of 2,400 students and educators, representing the 300 participating schools and 30,000 students from across Kentucky were inspired by the theme of this year’s event: “Living WE, WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? A tribute A RAGTAG to Muhammad Ali.” Immediately following the event, over 4,000 students, educators and leaders gathered together to march through the streets of in our WE Walk for BUNCH OF 12 Compassion event - celebrating the causes and issues that “ students care most deeply about. 7TH GRADERS, IT’S TIME TO FUEL THE WE DAY LED BY CRAIG KENTUCKY MOVEMENT

Let’s be honest. Who would have ever thought that a group of school kids could change the world? KIELBURGER, Twenty years after they first formed their action group, a ragtag THE bunch of 12 seventh graders, led by Craig Kielburger, has grown HAS GROWN INTO into a tidal wave for good. They have inspired millions of empowered and passionate young people, parents, teachers, and community leaders to work together to shift

A TIDAL WAVE the world from “Me to WE”. MOVEMENT The same energy and enthusiasm is growing in Kentucky.

Thanks to MobileServe and Bisig Impact Group, this report FOR GOOD TO will highlight our “Impact 20”, a collection of 20 stories that showcase some of the amazing service projects that students “ affiliated with WE Day Kentucky have completed. To see more OF OUR SHIFT THE service impact stories, please visit our website wedayky.org

With your help, we will encourage and support all of Kentucky’s WORLD FROM students in becoming active citizens and make our community and world a better place through service learning projects. TIME Please help us to fuel this movement. Thank you for your support!

ME TO WE.

Wendy and Kris Sirchio, Learn more at WeDayKY.org Co-founders, WE Day Community: Kentucky

4 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 5 The fifth grade class of Kenwood The drive started with the students Elementary was struggling to contain utilizing their creativity and Kenwood’s 2017 Impact Story: Kenwood Elementary its jubilance, as 2017 was their first time electronic resources to design and print attending WE Day. When researching a informational posters to hang throughout cause to devote time and talent, Quan the school. This helped to raise awareness Founder from the YMCA Safe Place was of the local community need, get the invited to speak to the group. Safe Place message out and communicate the call to is an organization that exists as a haven action that would help solve the problem. for children and young adults who need

help getting out of difficult situations. Hannah Ambort-Snyder, another fifth Safe Place accomplishes this through grade student adds, “[we requested] programs aimed at dismantling cycles of brushes, combs, body wash, deodorant, violence, offering family communication lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, In addition to the hygiene products they collected, Kenwood students also received donations to help services and preventing homelessness. mouthwash, shampoo and conditioner. at risk children and families. Everything you could use to think of for After Quan’s visit, the members of Ms. good hygiene.” The donations for the Handley and Ms. Donnelly’s We Act week filled 20 large packing boxes with Club were drawn to this plight and products that were then delivered to the decided on an action plan. Safe Place was local YMCA Safe Place.

BY NEED AUTHOR NAME unfortunately running short on hygiene

products, as more and more boys and The students realized that working girls were needing assistance. Kenwood together as a group was very gratifying, fifth grader Tariq Jabbar was particularly and also appreciated the hands-on moved, wanting to help the at-risk youth approach of their teachers. Kenwood not miss days of school because of the student, Wany Dut, described educators lack of these basic items. “That hit us as “the legs of their stool”, helping them emotionally. If we put ourselves in their achieve amazing success in such a short shoes, we didn’t want that to be us.” amount of time. HELPING H MELESS Student Tariq Jabbar is interviewed at the 2017 KIDS KIDS WE Day Community THE FIFTH GRADE CLASS OF KENWOOD ELEMENTARY USED POSTERS AND Kentucky event. BOUNDLESS ENERGY TO COLLECT PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

6 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 7 Sacred Heart Model School has a According to middle-schooler deep tradition of service, as it’s one of Mia Osborne, “It’s a really easy thing 2017 Impact Story: Sacred Heart Model School the cornerstones of their educational to do. All you need is a little time and philosophy. Students gather in “families” a few supplies to help others open made up of nine to twelve kids from their hearts.” kindergarten through the eighth grade, to discuss issues, brainstorm solutions Retired Navy veteran and beloved and find fun ways to bring those SHMS teacher Laurie Ortkiese reflected solutions to fruition. on her own experience with similar student messages when she was deployed As their mission for 2017’s Local Act of in South Korea. Receiving warm Kindness, the entire school took on the correspondence from people outside

task of acknowledging the sacrifice made of her immediate family members was a One of the students uses markers to design a valentine for the local Veteran population. by our veterans, and expressing their great comfort being so far away gratitude for that sacrifice by making from home. over 1,700 valentines. These valentines were delivered to the Louisville Veterans’ Mrs. Ortkiese knows that these cards Affairs Hospital to be distributed to can have a profound impact on the veterans seeking help at the hospital. veterans, who receive such messages as a confirmation that people— especially The “families” put themselves to work, younger generations— realize and respect creating handmade cards that were what soldiers have given up for their delivered by school representatives to country. “We want them to know they are the VA on Cupid’s Day. Their tools were loved any day of the week, and to know simple: paper, glue, markers, scissors and that we are thinking about them.” ribbon. Coupled with a deep sense of community and respect, these creative SACRED giants put together 8 ½” by 11” bundles of love to brighten a stranger’s day. HEART

Students from Sacred Heart MODEL Model School smile with their teacher, Mrs. Ortkiese at WE SHOWING Day KY. SOME FOR VETERANS SCHOOL

SACRED HEART MODEL SCHOOL TURNED HANDMADE CREATIVITY INTO BEAUTIFUL EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE, MAKING VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL FOR PATIENTS IN LOUISVILLE’S VA HOSPITAL.

8 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 9 Another first time attendee to said “sometimes you have to know your WE Day KY were the members of the responsibilities…to know what’s good, 2017 Impact Story: Grayson County High School Grayson County High School “Student and what’s better.” For this chapter, Y,” led by teacher Kelly Hall. Ms. Hall’s supporting one of their own with an act group looked a little further than their of kindness was their responsibility. hometown city limits of Leitchfield, Kentucky to perform a Global Act of Megan Duvall could be deemed as an Kindness in 2017. They focused their ambassador to the community, looking at efforts on young students in the Latin her experiences in helping others through American nation of Guatemala. A former small Acts of Kindness as a catalyst that Grayson County Cougar is serving “helps the world go around.” With a as a missionary to an orphaned and well of energy and drive to serve, she,

abandoned children’s home in Guatemala as well as her classmates, embodies the This is just one of the many boxes of supplies that the students collected to send overseas. City. She was asked by Ms. Hall what her foundational philosophies of WE Day. club could do to help. With children’s activities limited, the call came for As for the proud teacher-mentor-leader what every child needs to express their of the club, Ms. Hall knows that every creativity: Play-Doh, coloring books, time the students in her club get together, paper, colored pencils and markers. good things are expected. And good things Having defined the need, the Student Y are the result. Kelly sees these students as sprang into action and put together boxes “change agents,” never stopping short of of the rainbow-colored supplies to be their goal. Having more selfless and giving shipped to Central America. young people in the community, let alone the world, will keep everyone moving With a number of projects completed forward to a brighter, more fulfilled future. each year, this specific project highlighted the bond that is forged beyond a student’s years in the chapter. When reflecting on GRAYSON working to support a GCHS Student Y alumna, member Cameron Harris COUNTY In Guatemala, the children at MISSION the orphanage who received the donations are joyously POSSIBLE HIGH SCHOOL showing off their art work. THE WE ACT CLUB OF GRAYSON COUNTY DELIVERED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN HALF A WORLD AWAY. IN THE PROCESS, THEY LEARNED ABOUT LEADERSHIP IN THEIR OWN BACK YARD.

10 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 11 St. Francis School has a unique structure, Tapping into such a captive audience educating students at two area locations: was simple. But the work involved 2017 Impact Story: St. Francis School elementary and middle school in Goshen, was not easy. Miss Johnson has nothing Kentucky, and secondary school students but praise for the WE Act Club team within an historic building in the heart of leader and St. Francis teacher Susan downtown Louisville. Gorman who imparted gleaning a host of communication, organizational The WE Act Club turned their efforts and networking skills needed to make to assist the hard-hit nation of Haiti, this homegrown Global Act of Kindness which has been devastated by two a success. natural disasters in recent years. Focusing on education, the St. Francis WE Act But the bricks don’t stop there, as community just completed their Global the younger St. Francis WE Act Club Selling hot chocolate was one of the many fundraisers that the students completed to Act of Service: a three-and-a-half year applied the idea of providing comfort raise money to buy bricks for a school in Haiti. drive raising $10,000 to build a school in food to something every kid under Haiti, “one brick at a time.” fourteen cannot resist: hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course!). How did they accomplish that feat? They Rolling out a cart of rich hot chocolate held courtyard cookouts and offered a hot during wintery days in Goshen has chocolate cart to not only fill students’ proven to be an unmitigated success stomachs, but also their hearts. in raising funds for one of the newest education centers in Haiti. St. Francis sophomore Elizabeth Johnson, a veteran WE Day attendee and student Classmates coming together to board member, along with her classmates, help students abroad has provided came up with the cookout idea because the students of St. Francis a solid the high school does not have a cafeteria. foundation, realizing that small acts at ST. Students either bring lunch or visit one home can have a huge impact across of the many establishments within the world. FRANCIS walking distance. HAVING Students at the downtown St. Francis campus are getting & RAISING ready to chow down at one of SCHOOL their cookouts that also helped FUN MONEY FOR HAITI. raise money for the project. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH BURGER FLIPPING SKILLS AND A HIP-HOP SNACK CART? IF YOU ARE ST. FRANCIS SCHOOLS, YOU RAISE OVER $10,000 TO BUILD A BRAND NEW SCHOOL IN HAITI.

12 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 13 HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL LOUISVILLE, KY Students at Holy Cross collected canned food items through the We Scare Hunger campaign to donate to St. Vincent de Paul. They collected over 2,000 THEIMPACT20 cans. THIS YEAR, OVER 300,000 HOURS OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL SERVICE WERE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY. A CROSS SECTION OF THESE DIVERSE, CREATIVE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE 2017 “IMPACT 20” FOR JEFFERSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL OUTSTANDING SERVICE. MANY OF THESE PROJECTS WERE COORDINATED BY THE KENTUCKY JEFFERSONVILLE, IN These students collected donated blankets and stuffed animals to be delivered to YMCA AND THE IMPACT DATA COLLECTED BY THE MOBILESERVE APP / PLATFORM. Family Ark, a local orphanage. They collected over 60 stuffed animals and 22 blankets. Before they sent them over, they attached personal notes to each donation.

EAST OLDHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL PERSONAL CARE ITEMS CRESTWOOD, KY DONATED TO HELP LOCAL These students completed various local service projects this year including YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED raising money for local disabled veterans and planting additional trees on a nearby campus. 65,000

EMINENCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS LAYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EMINENCE, KY LOUISVILLE, KY Many students were able to pursue their own passions through service within this School-wide donations for hygiene items helped the community around Layne club. Some students served at local nursing homes or animal shelters. As a group, Elementary. These students took part in the WaterStep program as well, by they made items to sell at their school’s Christmas Bazaar. collecting shoes to fund water sanitation equipment and training.

FRANKFORT HIGH SCHOOL DUPONT MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL FRANKFORT, KY LOUISVILLE, KY The We Scare Hunger campaign is a ton of fun because the students at Frankfort These students assisted in a tree planting and community clean up for the High were able to dress up in costumes and go door to door to collect non- Russell Neighborhood in west Louisville in partnership with Louisville Grows. perishable items to donate to a local homeless shelter. They also hosted the fifth annual “Cupcake Wars”, a bake-off style fundraiser held each Valentine’s Day in Louisville. The chapter raised $3,000+ for the Kentucky YMCA Global Initiatives Fund.

14 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 15 NOTRE DAME ACADEMY LOUISVILLE, KY PARK HILLS, KY Mercy Academy students assisted with the research and advocacy on issues These students made 15 full-sized blankets to donate to Blanket Louisville, and from the Catholic Conference of Kentucky. Additionally, theses students have created bags full of supplies for homeless people in their community. These focused on immigration rights by working with Americana Community Center students keep a couple of these in the trunks of their car in case they come and Kentucky Refugee Ministries. across a person in need.

MEREDITH DUNN SCHOOL OLDHAM COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL LOUISVILLE, KY LaGRANGE, KY Students collected personal care products for senior citizens at a local nursing Oldham County Middle School students collected over 5,000 canned food items home. They also decorated gift bags to hold the items and personally delivered and wrote a check for $1,800 to benefit their local community members during them to the residents. the holidays.

HOURS OF GLOBAL NICHOLAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND LOCAL SERVICE CARLISLE, KY The Nicholas County FRYSC Backpack program received a couple extra helping 300,000 hands when the students stepped in to collect over 23,000 non-perishable canned food items. They didn’t stop there; they also assisted in packing the food in the backpacks for the children who didn’t have food over the weekends.

PHOENIX SCHOOL OF DISCOVERY LOUISVILLE, KY These students collected new and used bicycles to donate to the Kentucky Refugee Ministries. These bikes will not only provide happiness, but also a means of transportation to and from school, work and the grocery store.

PRESENTATION ACADEMY LOUISVILLE, KY Presentation Academy students helped by dancing to raise money and awareness of Huntington’s disease. The dance-a-thon benefits Louisville’s society of the Huntington’s Disease Chapter of America.

16 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 17 ROWAN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL MOREHEAD, KY The Middle and High School groups in Rowan County compose a team of 60+ members that come together twice a year to clean and beautify the highway they collectively adopted. Students take a great sense of pride in serving their local community on behalf of the Y and WE Day, as well having a more beautiful hometown through their efforts.

RUSSELL COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL RUSSELL SPRINGS, KY The We Scare Hunger campaign led these students to go door-to-door collecting canned goods on the night before Halloween for what they call a “reverse Halloween.”

SENECA HIGH SCHOOL LOUISVILLE, KY These students got out their tool sets to repair homes in Auxier, Kentucky, as well as collect dental hygiene supplies for the Auxier community and local Boys and Girls Club. Additionally, Seneca students served as Morale Captains and Spirit Masters at WE Day Community: Kentucky 2017.

PROVIDENCE MONTESSORI LEXINGTON, KY They tackled the topic of hunger for their service project, collecting items for WESTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL fire victims and women’s shelters. The students also helped provide food for LOUISVILLE, KY homeless students on the weekend. Recycling in the classroom is now commonplace thanks to these students. They created a recycling program at their school to collect paper materials from their classrooms. They also set up bins in the cafeteria for students to recycle their lunches.

MOBILESERVE: MobileServe helps WE Day Community KY track, ROBERT FROST SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY manage, and report our social impact. If you are A GREAT WAY TO part of an organization that values volunteerism but LOUISVILLE, KY wants a simple way to record, manage and track These students turned to basketball to lead the conversation on gun violence in TRACK IMPACT service hours, MobileServe can help. Louisville. They hosted a student-faculty basketball game to raise over $800.00 to benefit a local victim of gun violence. Visit mobileserve.com and find out more.

18 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 19 support for the social causes they are most passionate about. WE CALL TO ACTION – STUDENTS HELPING The only event of its kind, students coming together to positively STUDENTS IN KY change the world through the blocked off streets of downtown Louisville - the perfect culmination of the WE Day Community The needs in our community are immense. Every year at WE Day Kentucky celebration. Kentucky we announce our “Call to Action” finding new ways for “students to help other students”. Over the past two years we have Our 2020 goal is to enable the WE WALK FOR COMPASSION focused on supporting Kentucky’s student population who lack the event to become Louisville’s signature and most visible basic hygiene items necessary for them to feel confident to attend compassionate event during the Mayor’s annual “Give-A-Day” school every day. To date, our WE Day community has collected week celebration – bringing together adults of diverse faiths, over 115,000 personal care items such as soap, toothbrushes and ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds, to join youth from toothpaste, deodorant and feminine hygiene products, for homeless around the state in downtown Louisville to “Live WE” and show OUR 2020 VISION and other needy students across the state. the world that Louisville is America’s most compassionate city. To make this happen, we will need to increase awareness We can never say it enough - the needs in our community are and participation through broader media partnerships, build immense and they are constantly changing. Our 2020 goal is to broader more diverse support throughout our community and build more expansive and efficient distribution partnerships to enable engage faith-based leaders together with Public and Private students to increase and expand their impact on challenging social AND OUR IMPACT champions. issues across communities throughout Kentucky. Through our annual WE “Call to Action” students will experience how different groups can come together at the same time to make an immediate positive impact. In short, the actual WE DAY Kentucky event becomes the WE KENTUCKY – OUR FOCUS Combining the support and capabilities from WE’s global WE KENTUCKY - PLEASE JOIN THE embodiment of “Living WE”. We are excited about our progress over the past five years and and regional teams with our dedicated Kentucky WE Schools MOVEMENT we are incredibly appreciative of the community that has made Education Coordinator, we will expand our local educational We believe in bringing a generation together by proving that no it possible. However, we realize there is still an enormous partnerships to serve the broadest school population possible. one is alone in their desire for change. We believe in celebrating runway for the WE Day Community Kentucky platform to And along the way, we will build a simple, connected, Schools WE WALK FOR COMPASSION – STUDENTS the actions of young people and inspiring them to redefine what continue to grow and improve. And while we strive to expand communication platform that will enable us to create a unique is possible. We believe that young people in Kentucky need a the movement, we are committed to stay true to our beliefs WE Schools community capable of tracking and sharing RALLY TO CHANGE THE WORLD starting point and that WE Day Kentucky is that starting point. We that 1) every young person has the potential and the power to service-learning stories so we can effectively measure impact, The WE WALK FOR COMPASSION event immediately follows the hope you will join us in empowering Kentucky’s young leaders to positively change the world, and 2) that our unique contribution report back, and continue the cycle. WE Day Kentucky program. Imagine if you can, 4,000 students, help make positive difference in the world today. is to stay focused on developing actively engaged young educators, community leaders, and adults from all across our leaders in our Kentucky Community and surrounding region; community marching together carrying hand-made posters to show finding innovative and exciting ways to help young people “Live WE DAY COMMUNITY: KY – INSPIRING WE” at home, and in our schools, community, state, and beyond. YEAR LONG SERVICE All communities, local and global, face a variety of challenges. WE SCHOOLS KENTUCKY – DEEPENING The WE Schools Program helps educators and students around the state to identify, research and address the challenges in their OUR IMPACT own communities and abroad that resonate with them. WE Day WE Schools is a free program that provides educators with Community Kentucky is the energetic culmination and celebration an innovative tool kit for getting students involved in project- of the WE Schools program … Students can’t buy their ticket based learning. The intent is to help raise the level of classroom to WE Day, they earn it through service. WE Day Community engagement and to help students become more confident Kentucky brings together some of Kentucky’s most celebrated that they can make a positive difference in the world today. artists, leaders and talented, dynamic youth, alongside nationally Through WE Schools educational resources and service renowned talent from the Global WE Day stage, to celebrate the campaigns, students further their curricular learning and students and to inspire them to continue their year-long service. develop the life skills for success. Over the past 5 years, we In April 2017, a sold-out crowd of 2400 students and educators have approached schools and educational leaders one at a celebrated WE Day on Kentucky’s largest stage, the Kentucky time. Today we are very proud to report that approximately Center for Performing Arts in Louisville. 300 schools representing almost two-thirds of Kentucky’s counties participate in the WE Schools learning-through-service Our 2020 goal is to continue to inspire young people to programs. These initiatives have generated over 300,000 participate in year-long service projects by continuously service hours and added an incremental social value of over improving the quality experience of our local WE Day $5Million within the Kentucky Commonwealth. Community Kentucky event. Unfortunately, not all students can travel to attend WE Day Kentucky. As a result, we are actively Our 2020 goal is to double our school coverage from 30% seeking new ways to bring the WE DAY experience to more to 60%, reaching 100% of Kentucky’s counties. To achieve students throughout the Commonwealth both by exploring Students at WE Walk for Compassion show their belief that through the power of WE, every young person can this goal, we will need to continue to raise awareness and opportunities to extend the number of WE Day events and make a difference in the world! build support for WE Schools at the highest levels of our to leverage new technology platforms to live-stream event educational and corporate leadership throughout the state. coverage to more schools and students.

20 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 21 THANKS! NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT THAT OUR SPONSORS GIVE US. FROM BEHIND THE SCENES WORK, TO HANDS-ON EFFORTS WITH THE STUDENTS, YOU ALL HELP MAKE WE DAY A TRULY SPECIAL EVENT. THANK YOU.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE ARTS HIGHLAND CLEANERS LEAD2FEED LIFT-A-LIFE FOUNDATION THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER REPUBLIC BANK LOUISVILLE CITY FC THE GHEENS FOUNDATION THE SLAVEN FAMILY WLKY U OF L ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT BROWN-FORMAN THE CLOVERLEAF FUND LOUISVILLE DANCE ALLIANCE CIRQUE LOUIS BISIG IMPACT GROUP JCPS NUTRITION SERVICES CENTER 502 POWER YOGA BEARGRASS MEDIA KENTUCKY YMCA YOUTH ASSOCIATION ALPHA PRODUCTIONS MOBILESERVE METRO UNITED WAY LOUISVILLE PURE TAP 21C MUSEUM HOTELS 90 DEGREES NORTH YOGA ALPHA MEDIA HAND IN HAND MINISTRIES SACRED HEART MODEL SCHOOL SQUALLIS PUPPETEERS BRIGHT SMILES – BRIGHT FUTURES USA IMAGE RIVER CITY DRUM CORPS HUMANA VOLUNTEERS KENTUCKY REFUGEE MINISTRIES HEINE BROTHERS COFFEE ALLSTATE THE MAYOR’S YOUTH BOARD WALGREENS LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA KPMG ORCHESTR8 MICROSOFT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LOUISVILLE UNILEVER

Celebrating Champions Night 2017 at the Muhammad Ali Center with Craig Kielburger and friends. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, LOUISVILLE PNC BANK

22 WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WE DAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 23 WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR?

The Ali Center is a founding partner of WE DAY KY. Our amazing journey has lead to Craig Kielburger receiving an inaugural Muhammad Ali Global Humanitarian Award – Laila and Rasheda Ali-Walsh speaking on multiple WE DAY stages and WE DAY KY 2017, “Living WE… what are you fighting for?” a tribute to Muhammad Ali. Next year, a special Ali tribute will be shared on all Global WE DAY stages, ensuring his legacy lives on.

Photo Credit: Howard Bingham

02 WEDAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT WEDAY KY / 2017 IMPACT REPORT 07 WE Day Community | Kentucky 1289 Cherokee Rd. Louisville, KY 40204

502-333-5932 wedayky.org [email protected]

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