Eagle Fund Changemakers: Where Purpose Takes Flight

The Eagle Fund Changemakers class is co-taught by Ms. Champion and Director of Development Mrs. Jessica Goski, and this year also included Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Kerstin Rowe. Together, they guide students through a process that emphasizes leadership, agency, and responsibility.

“In Eagle Fund class, we discuss sharing one’s gifts of time, talent, and treasure,” Mrs. Goski said. “Students think beyond themselves and about the community around them; they research nonprofits to learn about their missions and greatest needs; they interview nonprofit leaders to hear firsthand how the organization’s work truly makes a positive impact on others; and they roll up their sleeves to do meaningful service.”

Dr. Rowe noted that research itself is a powerful part of the learning. “Students spend time researching so many organizations, and they narrow down which ones to work with,” Dr. Rowe said. “Most of the organizations students have never heard of, and neither did I. So it’s a great education on what exists to help our Denver community.”

Throughout the semester, students move from planning and discussion into real work. This year’s Changemakers supported local nonprofits through a combination of service and fundraising—sorting more than 1,500 books for Reach Out and Read, hosting concession stands at on-campus events, organizing a nonperishable food drive for Urban Peak to support teens experiencing homelessness, writing notes of encouragement to families with babies in the NICU through Love for Lily, decorating meal bags for Project Angel Heart, and volunteering early one morning with Food for Thought.

The Food for Thought experience was particularly memorable for many Eagle Fund students. Packing weekend meals for children who rely on school lunches made the work feel real and personal. “My most memorable experience was Food for Thought because I was helping kids around my age with big, hard-to-solve problems,” said seventh grader Rahm S. “It was really cool to see all these people gathered together for one cause,” seventh grader Anna L. added. For seventh grader Miles W., “it felt really good knowing the food was going to kids who might not have food except for their school lunch.” Eighth grader Cooper B. reflected that “everyone getting up early to help the community was inspiring.”

A defining feature of the Eagle Fund is that students lead the decision-making process from start to finish. “Students are responsible for communicating with leaders in each of the organizations and setting up interview dates and times,” Ms. Champion said. “Once they’ve made decisions about which organizations to partner with, they determine how we will support them—through time, talent, or treasure—and how much money we’d like to give.”

Since the program’s launch at Graland in 2019, Middle School students have donated a total of $29,253 from the Eagle Fund established by Graland Alumni to 19 local nonprofit organizations and completed hundreds of hours of service. The semester culminates in a celebration of learning, where students present checks to nonprofit partners and reflect on what they learned through the experience.

For many Graland alumni, the Eagle Fund experience continues well beyond Middle School. Jacob Barkin ’24 reflected on the impact the class had on his understanding of service:

“Graland’s Eagle Fund class helped shape my passion for service work by introducing me to causes and organizations that I have since grown to invest in. The most notable example was the Eagle Fund’s partnership with Food for Thought. It was an excellent experience for all of us, as we got to work with such an impactful organization and help students not unlike ourselves. This class taught us that giving capital is not the only way to give; you can also give your time, treasure, and talent. After graduating from Graland and attending Kent Denver, I continued my work on food insecurity through Plentiful.”

That sense of purpose and responsibility is echoed by fellow alumnus Liza Belzley ’24, whose Eagle Fund experience also shaped how she thinks about service and community:

“During Eagle Fund we learned many valuable lessons about the importance of giving back and how rewarding it can be. While I enjoyed all of the volunteering experiences, one stands out in particular—the early morning lunch packing with Food for Thought. That morning, seeing all the people excited and passionate about helping others, I realized that service creates community. I know that the 50-something bags I packed didn’t end childhood hunger; however, that work did help someone, and that makes the work meaningful.”

Through the Eagle Fund, Middle School students begin to see themselves as capable contributors to their community. By researching real needs, working alongside nonprofit partners, and reflecting on the impact of their choices, students learn that leadership grows from empathy, collaboration, and a willingness to show up—lessons that stay with them well beyond the semester.