In photo, from left: Hall of fame mascot Goldie the GOAT, hall of fame Chief Communications and Content Officer Rich Desrosiers, Key Club President Berkeley Craddock, Cloverleaf High School Principal Gary Miller, Key Club Treasurer Caroline Markert, Key Club Vice President Anna Naftzger, Cloverleaf High School teacher Justin Hoffman and Key Club adviser Andrea Hirst.
CANTON -- The Cloverleaf High School Key Club has won a $2,500 Character Grant from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The purpose of the grant is to start or expand school-based programs that teach character and integrity. The CHS Key Club will use its grant to expand its Bags of Kindness initiative, which distributes personal hygiene items and other necessities to members of the community during Matthew 25 Outreach Center's monthly free public produce distributions at Cloverleaf Elementary School.
"For me, as a judge trying to decide who to give this grant to, it took me about two seconds to pick this one because I just fell in love with the name," said hall of fame Chief Communications and Content Officer Rich Desrosiers at the awards ceremony Feb. 25 in Canton. "How do you not fall in love with a group that gives out 'Bags of Kindness?' "
It's not just giving people things they need, he added -- although that is important. It's also demonstrating that someone cares about them. As part of the outreach, Key Club members write positive messages to the recipients on each bag.
Last year, Key Club members distributed 125 Bags of Kindness, said Key Club adviser and Cloverleaf High School counselor Andrea Hirst. This year, the club hopes to nearly double that, thanks to the Character Grant.
Key Club is an international, student-led organization that provides high school students with opportunities to serve their communities and develop leadership skills.
