PRESS RELEASES

Today, The Upper Room, a Family Resource Center, in partnership with Pinkerton Academy, connected 64 high school students with area nonprofits during Youth Day of Giving Back. Students chose a variety of projects to help 7 local non profits get work done through “giving” of themselves. There were 288 hours of donated time given to better the community at large, with each site offering students opportunities to provide much needed work. Kudos to the efforts that go in to making such a large event take place, run well, and promote amazing outcomes for everyone involved. These collaborations benefit young people, which will hopefully carry on in to their adults lives.    

Pinkerton Academy’s Associate Dean of Students, Roger Konstant, Pinkerton Academy’s Associate Dean of Students coordinated the inquiry and placements of the students interested in giving back to their community. Shelly Koza, Marketing Coordinator, and Michelle Brauch, HiSET Program Coordinator from The Upper Room, managed the agency relations with each site, providing support, transportation and photo ops when needed.    

Students who volunteered for the day settled in the following sites: Camp Carpenter, SNH Montessori School, YMCA of Londonderry, The Upper Room, Community Caregivers, Derry Public Library and Pleasant Valley where they assisted in projects ranging from planting gardens, spring clean up, and setting up tents for summer camps, and many other necessary projects to help these agencies out.

Many students participate several years in a row, as they see the value it has on local charities, and they feel good about making their neighborhood a better place to be. 

Executive Director of The Upper Room, Brenda Guggisberg, explains that “Youth Day of Giving back has become an annual tradition that brings youth, the schools, and community agencies together to promote giving for the overall community. When we see such positive energy coming from our young people in an effort to take care of our region, it really is moving, and inspiring.” Roger Konstant, Associate Dean of Students at Pinkerton shares, "It is great to be able to connect students to these great organizations, they are very excited to lend a helping hand and make a difference in their communities. We have been involved with this awesome day for over 20 years, it is the highlight of many student's Pinkerton Career. Each year I stop by the sites to check on the students, the buzz and excitement of the day and the spirits of the students are infectious."