The LEAGUE (nonprofit)
Encyclopedia
The LEAGUE is a nonprofit, school and web-based program for service learning. The organization was founded in 2005 and as of July 2008, 189 schools, representing 1,833 classes and 110,535 students in 21 states nationwide were actively participating in The LEAGUE. The organization is headquartered in Newark, NJ, with offices in New York, Detroit, Indianapolis and Austin. The LEAGUE is a 501© 3 public charity.

The mission of The LEAGUE states: The LEAGUE is a school and web-based program for schools that builds character and empowers young people to “do good” in their community, the nation, and the world.

In the program, youth participate in service throughout the school year. The LEAGUE offers educator resources online to prepare students in the classroom for service in the community. The LEAGUE provides access to more than 1,300 K-12 classroom lessons on philanthropy, service-learning
Service-learning
Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching method, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education...

 and character education
Character education
Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant and/ or socially acceptable beings...

. All lessons are coded to and searchable by each state's core academic standards. Students demonstrate what they’ve learned by engaging in community service projects, called LEAGUE Events. Young people choose and develop the projects that they want to engage in. The LEAGUE is youth-led. Classes and students earn points for thoughtful civic engagement in the various LEAGUE events.

History

The LEAGUE was founded in 2005 by a group of business, education, government, media and non-profit leaders who created a model for developing the next generation of philanthropists.

In early November 2007, The LEAGUE launched nationwide with corporate and media partners to invite all schools to participate in service of their community, the nation, and the world. The national launch was help in Fall 200 and at Midtown West School in Manhattan (PS 212) with a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings and special guests Melinda Doolittle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melinda_Doolittle, singer, and Harlem Globetrotter Eugene “Wildkat” Edgerson.

In June, 2010, The LEAGUE merged with HandsOn/Points of Light Foundation in their youth-based generationOn program

Focus Areas

Learning
The LEAGUE provides access to more than 1,300 K-12 classroom lesson plans on giving, service and civic engagement
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...

. Educator resources are developed by its curriculum division, Learning to Give, the worlds leading curriculum on youth service
Youth service
Youth service refers to non-military, intensive engagement of young people in organized activity that contributes to the local, national, or world community. Youth service is widely recognized and valued by society, with minimal or no compensation to the server. Youth service also provides...

 and character education
Character education
Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant and/ or socially acceptable beings...

. Through a contract with EdGate's correlation services, each classroom lesson is teacher-created and coded to every state’s academic standards and is searchable by these standards. Each LEAGUE Event Lesson also includes Learning Links – 10 five-minute activities that reinforce the lesson, and a selection of post-service reflection activities.

Service
The LEAGUE event season calendar (major events, LEAGUE Wildcards and Open Wildcards) provides the class, school and students ways to get involved in making a difference in the community. The LEAGUE encourages service experiences for students to be engaged in service-learning
Service-learning
Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching method, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education...

.

The major events include:
Month Event Civic Concern Addressed
October One Day Volunteering & Service
November The Drive Hunger & Homelessness
January King Day Caring, Respect & Fairness
April Earth Day Environmental Stewardship


Participants can also conduct WildCard events by developing a service project specific to the needs of their community.

Training
Marjorie S. & Max M. Fisher Training Camp
The LEAGUE provides professional development for teachers on how to engage in The LEAGUE program, service learning, civic engagement
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...

, and character education
Character education
Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant and/ or socially acceptable beings...

. Training is offered online through The LEAGUE website.

Recognition
The LEAGUE Award System is a threshold-based model in which everyone can achieve success and recognition. Acknowledgment starts with the most minimal participation level, encouraging students to practice service and giving. The LEAGUE is a registered certifying organization for The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) and therefore able to present this award opportunity to students nationwide. This celebrated national award recognizes Americans who are making a difference in the lives of others through volunteer service.

Accomplishments

At The LEAGUE's First Annual Awards & Recognition Luncheon in NYC in June 2008, Queen Latifah served as MC and host. Students were recognized for their achievements in service during the 2007-2008 school year.

As of July 2008, 189 schools, representing 1,833 classes and 110,535 students in 21 states nationwide were actively participating in The LEAGUE. According to The LEAGUE's website metrics, these LEAGUE teams contributed the equivalent of $2,711,327 in time, talent and treasure to their communities.

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
The LEAGUE has national partners in all sectors. Partners include: JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....

; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation; Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the world's largest private philanthropic foundations and is among the ten largest such endowments in the United States....

; Family Circle
Family Circle
Family Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...

; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American private, non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts....

; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates; Cartoon Network (United States)
Cartoon Network (United States)
Cartoon Network is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting which primarily airs animated programming. The channel was launched on October 1, 1992 after Turner purchased the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991...

; CAA Foundation (Creative Artists Agency; Daniels Fund; RGK Foundation and TMG Promo/The Marketing Group.

LEADERSHIP
As of Fall 2008, the following individuals serve on The LEAGUE's Board of Directors.

Dave Barger, Chair, JetBlue Airways Chief Executive Officer; Dorothy A. Johnson, Vice-Chair, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trustee; Lee Kravitz, Secretary, Media Executive; Van Nguyen, Treasurer, Laurel Ridge Partners; Dave Allan, ?What If!; Doug Becker, Laureate; Morgan Binswanger, Lance Armstrong Foundation; C. David Campbell, McGregor Fund; Robert S. Collier, Council of Michigan Foundations; Shakim Compere, Flavor Unit Entertainment; Julie F. Cummings, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation; Mark J. Gordon,
Mark J. Gordon Foundation; Susan Hassan, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Bill Hoogterp, The LEAGUE; Beth Hurvitz, Visa, Inc.; James A. Kelly, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (Founding President); Michelle Kydd Lee, CAA Foundation
(Creative Artists Agency); Ethan Penner, CB Richard Ellis; Gerry Tirozzi, National Association of Secondary School Principals; George H. Walker, Lehman Brothers.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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