Project Possible: A Great Way to Help Others

LEXINGTON PARK - 10/29/2008

By Pete Hurrey

 
 Project Possible Students: (Back to Front, Left
 to Right) Chris George, Bryan Pilgrim, Kaden
 Sanchez, Nataly Cruz-Castillo, Dorothy Cavanagh,
 and Zack Thomas all ready for Great Mills
 Homecoming Game talked with TBN about
 Project Possible. 
At Great Mills High School, a group of students works together to help the world around them. It is neither a class project, nor an assignment. It is an effort to make a difference. It is Project Possible.

TheBAYNET.com met with a few of the students and talked to their teacher and mentor about the effort. “Every class in AP Government is participating,” said Luanne Ruonavar, teacher and mentor. “It is a Student Service Learning project through the O Ambassadors program.  This is a joint initiative by Oprah’s Angel Network and Free the Children.”

Ruonavar went on to explain that they have a goal to raise $8,000 to build a school in a country that cannot afford enough

 
 Ruonavar
schooling. “I thought it was important that the students also understand that there are plenty of people here that need help as well,” said Ruonavar. “That’s why we are taking them to see the neighborhood and the problems here while we’re attempting to raise funds for the school at the same time.”

The students participating are being asked to learn about and to participate in different aspects of the community. In the area of Poverty, they are participating in the Harvest for the Hungry program. Ruonavar is also working with Habitat for Humanity in the area of housing so that students can experience building a home for those in need. However, Project Possible has not finalized an agreement with Habitat at this time. Additionally, they are being introduced to nursing homes and learning about health concerns of the elderly.

The students seem to enjoy the effort. So far, each of Ruonavar’s classes has done a fundraiser. The first was a bake sale which netted Project Possible over $1,000 toward their $8,000 goal. Next up is a basketball free-throwing competition set to go in a few weeks. The students also participate in a weekly fundraising effort dubbed, “Dollar Days,” where students raise money and bring it to school each Friday. “It can be change, or a donation from our parents and a couple of pennies,” said Zack Thomas, one of the Project Possible students.

 

 Dorothy Cavanagh shows
 the goals for this year's
 Project Possible.

Nataly Cruz-Castillo, another student is excited about the pending basketball competition. In all, the six students visited by TBN seemed enthusiastic and eager to learn more about how they can help their community while participating in the Oprah Angel Network project.

Oprah’s Angel Network was begun after one of Oprah Winfrey’s shows in 1997 where Winfrey asked viewers to join her  efforts to improve the lives of others. Their was an immediate outpouring from the viewers who were first asked to collect spare change to provide scholarships and to build 200 homes for the needy.

Since that time, the effort has expanded around the globe and involves millions of people helping others that are unable to help themselves.

At Great Mills High School, perhaps, Project Possible is just a beginning that may spread to other schools and neighborhoods in Southern Maryland, making the community a much better place to live.

For information on how to participate in any of Project Possible’s events or to donate, contact the school at (301) 863-4001 or email Ruonavar at ljruonavar@smcps.org.