Falcon Seniors Fundraise Hundreds for Disadvantaged Youth Alongside Umps Care Charity
Severna Park, MD - A group of seven Severna Park High School students, led by Leadership III seniors Matthew Hong and Owen Moran, raised over $400 for Umps Care Charities, the official charity of Major League Baseball Umpires. Their project took place between January and May 2021 and included fundraising, social media advocacy, and writing letters to children's hospitals.
Umps Care is an organization founded through the compassion of Major League Baseball umpires. With the help of donations and volunteer work, Umps Care provides financial, in-kind and emotional support for America’s youth and families in need, in the form of scholarships, opportunities, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Along with fundraising, the group also created 100 cards to send to children at Johns Hopkins children’s center, one of the partners of Umps Care’s BLUE for Kids hospital visit program. The group created a social media account to raise awareness for Umps Care and their mission, and spread it to the students of Severna Park High School.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unique challenges to the execution of the project. Students were not permitted to meet in person or participate in in-person charity events, and meetings took place exclusively online. Nearly all of the advertising and fundraising efforts took place virtually. Each group member gained valuable leadership experience, especially how to lead in an increasingly virtual environment.
Matthew and Owen credit their success to the lessons learned through the SPHS Leadership Institute, which involves three years of hands-on experience and planning of an independent student-led and professionally mentored service project. They would like to thank the Umps Care Charities team and Mrs. Chang for all their unwavering support. They encourage everyone to heed Umps Care’s motto: Helping People is an Easy Call!
For further information please contact Matthew Hong & Owen Moran at: (410)-916-7618 or email at matthong20@gmail.com or omoran731@gmail.com
