The Champlin Park Leo Club was selected to win a Kindness Matters Service Award for the 2024-2025 Lion Year. These dedicated high school students implemented an ambitious project to support Evergreen Park Elementary School—a feeder school to Champlin Park High—where 79% of students qualify for free and reduced lunches.
Motivated by a desire to make a tangible difference in their own community, the Leos invited an Evergreen Park school counselor to a meeting to discuss student needs and how they could help. Then they developed a comprehensive plan and launched a series of initiatives:
- Clothing Drive: A month-long campaign collected 70 youth-sized clothing items, including winter coats and warm essentials.
- Children’s Book Drive: Over 200 books were donated to encourage literacy and joy in reading.
- Mentoring and Tutoring: High school students volunteered on eight different dates to mentor and tutor younger students.
- Event Support: Leos assisted with school events like Multilanguage Night, Spring Fling and Track & Field Day.
- Hygiene Kits: Using funds earned from concessions, they assembled 300 hygiene kits for 4th and 5th graders and decorated the bags of the kits.
- Fundraising: Two creative fundraisers—Valentine Grams and a Survivor-themed event—raised US$1,290 for snacks, gift cards and classroom supplies.
Community involvement
Partnerships were key to success. The Leos collaborated closely with Evergreen Park staff to ensure their efforts met real needs. Champlin Park High School students and staff rallied behind clothing and book drives, while the broader school community supported fundraising efforts. Additionally, the Leos secured a US$350 grant from Education+ to purchase learning games and supplies for first-grade and special education classrooms. This collaboration demonstrated the power of community and the ripple effects of kindness:
- For Evergreen Park students: Access to clothing, books, hygiene kits and classroom supplies helped meet basic needs, helping students to be more productive and engaged. Mentorship provided positive role models and academic support.
- For student families: Gift cards for groceries and gas offered relief during the holiday season, while snacks for students ensured no child went hungry during the school day.
- For the Leo volunteers: The experience empowered these high school students to see themselves as capable changemakers. They gained leadership skills, confidence and a sense of accomplishment that will serve them for years to come.
Kindness matters
This project addressed critical needs in a community where economic challenges can impact student success. By providing essential supplies and emotional support, these Leos helped create a more stable and nurturing environment for Evergreen Park students. Beyond meeting immediate needs, the project fostered hope and connection—showing younger students that their community cares about them.
For the Leos, the project was transformative. They learned that leadership isn’t about age or status—it’s about action. The Champlin Park Leo Club demonstrated that when young people unite in kindness, they gain leadership skills like teamwork, communication and problem solving, while helping meet real needs in their community.
The Champlin Park Leo Club is one of only 30 winners of the Kindness Matters Service Award for service completed in Lion Year 2024-2025. We hope this award-winning activity inspires you. Be sure to nominate your club for the Kindness Matters Service Award next year!
Crystal Jurczynski is the service activities program manager for Lions International.
