Club Advisers:  Mrs. Corina Rogers and Mrs. Michelle McGlynn

Waunakee Pay it Forward Pursues Establishing a Local Edible Schoolyard

The Edible Schoolyard (ESY), established in 1995, is a one-acre garden and kitchen classroom at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, California. It is a program of the Chez Panisse Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by chef and author Alice Waters.

The visibility of ESY has also increased. The program hosts over 1,000 visitors each year—from educators, to health professionals, to international delegates—and has inspired countless kitchen and garden programs. In 2005 we launched our first affiliate program in New Orleans, Louisiana. Today, we have a small network of Edible Schoolyard affiliate programs in cities across the country. (Source: http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/)

Click here for the information sheet provided to staff and community in Spring 2009

2009-2010 Organization Highlights

Pay it Forward had a very productive and philanthropic school year.  We were able to celebrate becoming an official high school organization this fall when our club was approved by the Waunakee School Board.  While we were only a "pilot" program last year, we still had many accomplishments and look forward to many years of Paying it Forward throughout the local, state, and world communities we are trying to help.

What We Accomplished this Year:

• Homecoming Pay it Forward Bracelets - sold districtwide to raise awareness of our club and show school spirit
• Football Concessions - to raise money for our microloan activities through KIVA
• Craft Fair Concessions - to raise money that was donated to the Waunakee Food Pantry
• Christmas Giving Tree
• Valentine's Day Carnations - to raise money for our microloan activities through KIVA and to spread goodwill throughout the high school
• Annual Spring Garage Sale - to raise money for our microloan activities through KIVA
• St. Vincent de Paul donation - all garage sale items that were not sold were donated
• Cystic Fibrosis "Going Green" Basket - donation to the Waunakee Student Council to use as a fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis

We can't wait for next year!

HISTORY:

In the winter of 2007, Pay it Forward was approved as a pilot club.  Our organization’s goal is to raise money through fund raising efforts to donate to entrepreneurs around the world who are located in countries that have very little funding available for their financial needs.  We are working with a non-profit organization called KIVA, and together we are able to microloan money to entrepreneurs who are in need of financial assistance.  The money is repaid without interest, and funds are then made available to re-loan to another person or group of our choice.  In a community where we really have so much, it is a wonderful philanthropic experience for our students to truly give back.

The students have worked very hard to raise money for this cause.  From “pounding the pavement” and asking for donations from our local businesses to collecting items for a garage sale, we have been very fortunate to have already raised enough money to begin our goal of micro loaning the money to those in need.  If you would like to see the entrepreneurs our group has lent money to, you can click on the link at the right.

At the end of the 2007-08 school year, we planned a Family Fun Night open to all students.  Students came into the school on a Friday night and played Super Smash Brothers on the Wii, several games of Rock Band and Guitar Hero were played, a Texas Hold 'Em tournament, open gym with volleyball and basketball, as well as pizza, soda, and baked goods to eat.