Students Make a Difference in the Community

Students at Simon Youth North Coast Academy at Richmond Town Square Sears in Cleveland, Ohio under the direction of director Rena Wertheim, recently participated in several community service activities planned by Heidi Solomon, coordinator of Jewish Family Service Association’s Horvitz Youth Ability program.

Academy students assisted with birthday celebrations for participants at an adult day program at Park Synagogue Main in Cleveland Heights. They also participated in a blood drive, and volunteered in the kindergarten classroom at Mercer Elementary School in Shaker Heights. They partnered with JFSA in working with children with disabilities at Brush High School in Lyndhurst, and assisted students with disabilities at Orange High School in Pepper Pike.

At Memorial Junior High School in South Euclid, students explained that the choices they had made earlier led to the need to go to an alternative school, and they encouraged younger students to make better choices.

Simon Youth Foundation is celebrating 15 years of igniting hope, graduating more than 10,000 students, and awarding more than $10 million in scholarships. The 23 academies in 13 states partner with more than 50 school districts and graduate students at a 90% rate. Learn more at syf.org.