The FCCLA Community Service Program guides students to develop, plan, carry out, and evaluate projects that improve the quality of life in their communities. Community Service helps young people build skills for family, career, and community roles; provides youth-centered learning experiences related to Family and Consumer Sciences education; and encourages young people to develop the positive character traits of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

FCCLA Community Service projects can be a great “first step” for less-experienced advisers, chapters, or members. They involve fun, hands-on activities that motivate and involve students while offering a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. Projects range from simple, one-time efforts to multi-faceted, ongoing programs. Here’s an example of the range of projects that might grow out of a single concern – to clean up the community.

Integrate FCCLA into your classroom by downloading lesson plans and activities!




Awards:

• High School Award — $1,000
• Middle School Award — $1,000
• First Runner-Up Award — $500
• Second Runner-Up Award — $100
• Third Runner-Up Award — $100

Deadline: Applications must be submitted online to FCCLA national headquarters by March 1. The online award system will automatically close March 1, 11:59 p.m. EST. Not ready to start your application? You can preview the application before submitting it by logging onto the Program Award website.   

Start your 2010-2011 CommunityService Award Application.

Community Service Preview Application(.pdf)

High School Winner
Victoria High FCCLA, Kansas
Title:  “There's a Monkey in My Chair”

Middle School Winner
Dibble FCCLA, Oklahoma
Title:  “Cookies for Soldiers”

First Runner-Up Winner
Ripley Junior Senior FCCLA, Ohio
Title:  “Step Up to the Plate:  Hit a Homerun for the Community”

Second Runner-Up Winner
John P. Stevens FCCLA, New Jersey
Title:  “Kids Helping Kids”

Third Runner-Up Winner
Fulda Junior High FCCLA, Minnesota
Title:  “Feed A Friend”

Partners:

America’s Promise - Building on the legacy of our founder, General Colin Powell, we are the leader in forging a strong and effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children experience the fundamental resources they need to succeed.

Children's Miracle Network - FCCLA is proud to partner with Children's Miracle Network as the 2009-2011 National Outreach Project. Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children's Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children's Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year.

Connect America - Points of Light Institute advances innovative civic change strategies.

Make A Difference Day - Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday every October.

National & Global Youth Service Day (April 23-25, 2010) - Millions of youth participate in Global Youth Service Day, the largest service event in the world. They tutor young children, engage in disaster relief, register new voters, educate their communities about good nutrition, distribute HIV/AIDs prevention materials and meet many more community needs through their service.

Semester of Service - Semester of Service encourages students, ages 5-25, to develop a semester-long service-learning project that launches on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and culminates on Global Youth Service Day. Projects take place in classrooms as part of the academic curriculum; in schools as part of extra-curricular activities; in congregations of faith; and in youth development groups in neighborhoods across the United States.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards - Honors young people in middle level and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. Created in 1995 by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the awards constitute the United States' largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteering. Over the past 12 years, the program has honored more than 75,000 young volunteers at the local, state, and national level.

Resources:

• Community Service Info Sheet (.pdf)
• Beyond the Bake Sale – The Ultimate School Fundraising Book
• Community Service CD – The FCCLA Community Service CD builds on the organization’s tradition of student-directed service. The program guides students to develop, plan, carry out, and evaluate projects that improve the quality of life in their communities and improve their education experience through service –learning activities. Through their projects members take action in their communities and discover the difference they can make through their involvement in FCCLA’s Community Service Program.
• Corporation for National and Community Service - Includes information about the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009, AmeriCorps, and volunteering in America.
• National Service-Learning Partnership -national network of members dedicated to advancing service-learning as a core part of every young person's education.
• NYLC: National Youth Leadership Council - Learn the essentials of "Service-Learning".
• Communicating Effectively For Dummies - Please use the discount code STAR1 to receive a 40% discount on any of the For Dummies books listed as a resource.
• Leadership For Dummies
• Managing Teams For Dummies
• Public Speaking For Dummies
• Robert’s Rules For Dummies

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