Ask Not What Your Community Can Do for You: Upper School Holds First Annual Community Partners Fair

On Sept. 22, students in Grades 9 – 12 engaged with our first annual Community Partners Fair. Representatives from eight local non-profits spoke about their organizations’ mission, history, and ways our students can volunteer or engage with them to benefit our community. Organizations included Building Goodness Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia, ReImagine CVA, Rivanna Conservation Alliance, Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Ronald McDonald House Charities Charlottesville, and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

“We have students volunteering in these organizations all the time,” says Director of Community Partnerships Phil Stinnie P. ’13 & ’14. “A group just got back from Ronald McDonald House, for example, and we’re at Camp Holiday Trails every weekend. But this was a chance to increase all students’ awareness of our community partners and the breadth of the work that they do. I’ve already had students come up to me afterwards to say they’ve signed up to volunteer.”

While the Community Partners Fair was an important first step, Dylan S. ’23 and Caroline S. ’23 have a vision for deepening service work and community outreach for the School. Working closely with Mr. Stinnie, the seniors are starting a new service-learning club. “Not only do we believe this club will build strength outside of our St. Anne’s-Belfield life, but also within. We hope our classmates are motivated to help our community, and also gain a sense of encouragement that these opportunities would build a stronger St. Anne’s-Belfield community.”

“We hope our classmates are motivated to help our community, and also gain a sense of encouragement that these opportunities would build a stronger St. Anne’s-Belfield community.” — Dylan S. ’23 and Caroline S. ’23

A special thanks to our community partners:

• Camp Holiday Trails — a camp for children with medical needs
• Building Goodness Foundation — connecting skilled volunteers from the construction and design industries to NGOs and non-profit organizations who have active building projects
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville — building and improving homes for people in our local community
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia — enables all young people, especially those of greatest need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
• ReImagine CVA — a website resource that informs the community of all the different ways to become involved with the social sector
• Rivanna Conservation Alliance — helping clean and protect the Rivanna River and its tributaries
• Center for Nonprofit Excellence — promotes excellence through training and executive education for nonprofits in Charlottesville and Central Virginia
• Ronald McDonald House Charities Charlottesville — part of a worldwide network offering hope, support, and love to families struggling with children’s illness, by offering a “home away from home.”
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank — help feed our neighbors in need