We hear a lot about the number of dollars spent to implement various public school programs, but what about the dollars they bring in? In the 2010-2011 school year, students in Fayetteville High School’s Service Learning class wrote and received funding for more than $24,000 worth of grants to benefit their school. 

Through the Service Learning class, in partnership with Fayetteville Area Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) program, students learned about both sides of philanthropy – how to request money for programs and how to give it away wisely. The grants the students received will help fund recycling in the district, a vegetable garden for elementary students, materials for hands-on science instruction and more. “It’s not always about the money,” noted Service Learning teacher Connie Crisp. “It’s about the learning process – learning to create programs, seek funding and find partners.”