WOW… YLS Schools are really moving forward into the 2013 New Year and giving back to their community! The Anthony Muñoz Foundation has been touring all around the Tri-State area attending service challenge projects. (Not familiar with our Service Challenge Tour? Check out our previous blog here!)
Our last Service Challenge Tour stopped at Oyler High School and Ursuline Academy, two different schools that found the passion and drive to make this service challenge their own!
Oyler High School
Knowing that so many people in their community didn’t have a lot to give, Oyler students had to think of a way to give back without asking too much of their community members.
The solution: students volunteered to take family portraits of families in their community.
Oyler students created and managed this project from start to finish with guidance from Athletic Director and Technology Coordinator, David Scholl.
“It was exciting to see the students embrace the idea of giving back to their community and following through with their plans. They have learned what it takes to plan for events, fund raise, maintain a budget, and advertise their event(s)” says David.
Oyler High School presented these portraits to the families at a dinner on December 20th to wrap up the 2012-year. 
The students also reached out to Western Hills Chick-fil-A and brainstormed two fundraising ideas. They included ideas to sell a Chick-fil-A calendar and create a collection barrel to place in the Western Hills Chick-fil-A store.
The money raised and items placed in the collection barrel went towards gifts purchased for two families that Oyler also decided to adopt during the Holiday Season.
Ursuline Academy
The Lady Lions had a different struggle when trying to come up with a service challenge project. Community service is a big focus at Ursuline Academy, so students had to think outside the box to create a meaningful project that wasn’t already being done.
They managed to think outside the box and create a project they called “LOVE” Notes. Students are designing simple notes to reflect on a message of encouragement, happiness and joy. A “LOVE” Note will be attached to each meal, blanket, dinner, and clothing item that is donated to the agencies and projects that the Ursuline Academy supports.
On January 3rd tables were set up in front of the Ursuline Academy Café for all students to get involved. Students crowded around the tables 
during the school day to create a kind note. This month, the “LOVE” Notes will be attached to sandwiches that are donated to Mercy Franciscan St. Johns. Ursuline students plan to create these notes for most donations they make throughout the school year.
We are so thankful that these schools let us be a part of their projects!
Development Intern,
Angela Johnson