Service Learning

Rivers Givers Youth Philanthropy Program

The Rivers Givers Youth & Philanthropy program was established in the fall of 2002 thanks to the initiative of one student who proposed the idea. Now an independent, youth philanthropy program, Rivers Givers is responsible for identifying a broad range of non-profit organizations in the Greater Boston area that are committed to meeting the needs of children and youth. Student leadership and initiative are key to the program’s success.

Each year Rivers Givers follows a process for evaluating requests by community groups for funding which includes:

    • Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) issued by facilitator
    • Specialized training in the fundamentals of philanthropy
    • Deliberations based on the guidelines learned in preparatory sessions 
    • Number of proposals narrowed down
    • Site visits for remaining organizations
Upon completion of the site visits, Rivers Givers choose the organizations that they believe to be the most worthy. Input is received from representatives of the Middle School as well as the Upper School prior to the final decisions.

Fundraising

Rivers Givers are responsible for raising the $10,000 that they give away annually to the organizations they select. Educational presentations, designed to engage the student body, are an integral part of their efforts. Fund raisers, chosen and implemented by the Rivers Givers with support from other student volunteers, have included:

  • Pay your way dress down days 
  • Holiday Tournament food sales 
  • Middle School Martin Luther King, Jr. work day 
  • Upper School walkathon

Grant Recipients

Past recipients of Rivers Givers Grants include:

  • Camp Arrowhead Special Needs Daycamp 
  • Cradles to Crayons 
  • Birthday Wishes 
  • The New England Center for Children 
  • Resiliency for Life 
  • MetroWest Coalition for the Homeless 
  • The Children’s Room Grief program 
  • The MSPCC ‘Good Start’ program 
  • The John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation mentoring program 
  • The Minuteman ARC afternoon program 
  • The Parmenter Health Service‘Good Grief’ program 
  • The Boston Insitute for Arts Therapy 
  • The Greater Marlboro arts programs 
  • The Parents Association of the Handicapped, Natick
Hurricane Katrina relief grant recipients include:

  • KaBOOM – Operation Playground 
  • The Southern Mutual Help Association, Louisiana 
  • American Red Cross