Members of the 2015-16 Youth Leadership program of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce presented a check to Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland. Fundraising efforts for a leadership service project at Bradley Central, Cleveland and Walker Valley High Schools and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School netted more than $1,800 for local building projects. From left are Trey Taylor, TCPS; Adam Foster and Morgan Moffett, CHS; Chip Willis and Desiree Colon, Habitat; Caitlin Lay and Laura Scarbrough, WVHS; and Blaire Terrell and Laney Houston, BCHS.
The 2015-16 Youth Leadership class has raised $1,849.85 for Cleveland’s Habitat for Humanity construction fund this year as part of their service project. The 24 juniors and seniors from Bradley Central, Cleveland and Walker Valley High Schools and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School will also volunteer “sweat equity” later this school year by painting and landscaping at Habitat homes and by working in Habitat’s ReStore.
“Once again, the Chamber’s Youth Leadership class has stepped up to the challenge of raising funds for families in need of decent, safe housing,” Chip Willis, executive director of the local Habitat affiliate, said. “We appreciate all that this year’s class has done for Habitat of Cleveland, and we value our partnership with the Youth leadership program.”
Youth Leadership is a workforce development program of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce designed to prepare young people for leadership in Cleveland and Bradley Counties.
“As part of this service project, students choose a captain and work as a team in this fundraising effort,” said Sherry Crye, director of workforce development and coordinator of the Youth Leadership program. “This is another way students can exercise their leadership skills.”
This year’s fundraising projects included selling armbands at school, student/teacher dodgeball games, paying to have “dress down” day, and collecting donations at football games.
“We are very proud of their efforts and their willingness to give back to our community,” Ms. Crye said.