The Public Purpose program engages students with educational opportunities that prepare them to be responsible citizens who possess an ethic of service, act with empathy, and think critically. In the Middle School, students in Grades 7 and 8 participate in year-long social impact projects of their choice. On May 22 and 24, they presented their work to their Middle and Upper School peers during the Social Impact Fair.
Earlier in the year, groups of seventh and eighth graders identified topics and organizations of interest. They then researched how their selected topics are impacted by systemic, societal, and economic factors.
As part of their stations at the Social Impact Fair, students developed creative actionable ways to support their organizations, including fundraising initiatives, poster campaigns, trivia games, and ticketed activities. All of the proceeds were directed to the various nonprofit partners.
The organizations selected by the Middle Schoolers for the 2024 Social Impact Fair were:
- Cancer Support Team
- The Fuller Center
- Green Team
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind
- Humane Society of Westchester
- Israeli Red Cross
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Meals on Main Street
- NY Junior Tennis & Learning Center
- Paws Crossed Animal Rescue
- UNICEF for Ukraine
- United Jewish Appeal
- Westchester NOW
- WJCS Center Lane
- The World Food Program