The mission of 15-Love is “to reach out to youth in the Capital Region in a loving and caring way, using tennis as a means of connection—especially for those in inner-city communities.” Meara, a passionate tennis player, was drawn to the organization because it uses the sport to build relationships, support families, and strengthen communities.…

Academy of the Holy Names took a break from academics for a day on Thursday, as students, faculty and staff spent the day volunteering their time at more than 20 different service organizations around the Capital District. The day consisted of various service projects, ranging from preparing meals at the Sr. Maureen Joyce Soup Kitchen to sorting and organizing donations at St. Catherine’s Center…

As an equestrian, Ava focused her service project on the Albany Therapeutic Riding Center which “strives to provide, promote, and encourage the benefits of equine facilitated therapeutics and activities by teaching horsemanship to individuals across multiple populations.” Ava coordinated three events at the barn for children who reside at St. Catherine’s. To raise awareness of…

As a volunteer at the food pantry Cheryl stocked shelves and helped distribute food on client days. In the thrift store she sorted donated clothes and helped with basic cleaning and maintenance. She also assisted families with finding their specific needs. Cheryl raised awareness about poverty and the programs offered at Blessed Sacrament by creating…

The City Rescue Mission does not only provide shelter for the unhoused, but also vital food, clothing, medical and faith services for people in need in the community. Aba worked at dinner services prepping trays and serving food. Kaleeyah also helped serve dinners and clean-up, and she made sandwiches for bagged lunches. Fundraising is important…

Catholic Charities “offers free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs, providing IRS-certified tax preparation for low-to-moderate income individuals.” “These programs save residents high preparation fees, ensure accurate filing, and are often available from January through April 15, supported by community volunteers.” CeCe devoted much time in advocating for this program by creating a bulletin board at…

The purpose of Ella and Alysia’s project was twofold: 1) To raise awareness of breast health and the symptoms & signs of breast cancer, and 2) To fundraise for the Foundation. They created a pink environment throughout the school to honor Breast Cancer awareness month in October. They raised awareness by creating a bulletin board,…

For her Senior Service Project, Kathryn dedicated her efforts to supporting Glendale Nursing Home in Schenectady County. At AHN, she organized a collection of stuffed animals to donate to the facility. These items were used as prizes for Bingo Night and as comfort objects for residents living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, for whom stuffed animals…

Harriet’s kids is a girl’s group under the Alpha Chi Omega Chi women’s chapter of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club. This group focuses on carrying out the mission of Harriet Tubman and her values of empowering young women. They regularly host meetings and fundraisers to offer a mentoring service where the older girls…

Homeward Bound Adirondacks empowers Veterans in Northern New York “to reclaim their lives and find hope beyond trauma”. They provide support services to help Veterans suffering from PTSD. Rylee and Kate organized a badminton tournament at AHN to raise funds for this organization. They also arranged an event at school where students created supportive greeting…

Congratulations to junior Maeve O’Brien who was honored by Sen. Patricia Fahy at this year’s New York State Senate Youth Leadership Recognition Awards on Friday. The program awards outstanding students who excel academically and through leadership in extracurricular and volunteer activities. Maeve, accompanied to the event by Principal Taranto, was nominated for her leadership in…

Cassie and Addison coordinated a team from AHN to participate in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Siena College. The purpose of the Walk was to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. They organized several school-wide events, as well, including bake sales, posters, announcements, tee shirt decorating, and a dress-down…

The Regional Food Bank “collects donated food from the food industry and distributes it to more than 1,000 partner agencies and programs feeding our neighbors in need. The food provided by the Regional Food Bank helps to feed over 355,000 people each month.” Georgia and Paulie hosted a glow-in-the-dark volleyball tournament to raise funds for…

The Saratoga Community Health Center provides comprehensive health care for all people in the community who need care regardless of their insurance status and ability to pay. Rachael, Shaya, and Ella organized a soccer tournament to raise money for the Center. This entailed recruiting players, creating a tournament bracket, setting up a concession stand, as…

Congratulations to Ella Schoenborn ’26, honored with the “Why I Care” Award from Broadview Federal Credit Union. Broadview’s most prestigious honor, the award is presented quarterly to one employee and one member for their community service activities, non-profit involvement, and how they are inspiring others to join in. With the award came a $1000 donation…

Mary assisted with St. Pius’ “Wine & Dine for the Dominican Republic” event held at the church’s parish hall. The event supported the work of NPH USA, an organization that helps provide care, education, and support for vulnerable children, including those living at Casa Santa Ana Orphanage. Mary helped with the planning process, working with…

Sidewalk Warriors offer meals, essential supplies, and a sense of community to anyone in need, and particularly the unhoused. They set up each week on the sidewalk at the corner of 5th and State Streets in Troy, NY…come rain or shine. Chloe and Ella cooked 180 meals and passed them out during a Sidewalk Warrior…

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is “dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families in the region.” Kayla and Mia organized a giving tree at AHN to benefit the children at St. Catherine’s. This was a major undertaking that demanded great organizational skills. Before setting up the tree, Kayla and Mia corresponded with…

The St. Pius elementary Religious Ed Program teaches children “to know, love and serve God and their neighbors”. Sabrina volunteered as a teacher’s assistant in the kindergarten classroom on Sunday mornings. She has reported that she not only acquired skills in classroom management and communication, but she also learned to be patient, thankful, and grow…

Street Soldiers is a grassroots group of volunteers that distributes donations throughout Albany, Troy, and Schenectady. For her project, Sophia organized a toy drive, collecting stuffed animals and dolls at her family’s bowling alleys and at friends’ businesses to support children in Schenectady’s inner-city communities. Through collection boxes and Venmo donations, she gathered and donated…

“The American College of Surgeons’ Stop the Bleed Program empowers you to go from bystander to lifesaver.” This program offers bleeding control training and “empowers anyone to save a life by learning 3 basic actions to control severe bleeding in an injured person.” Molly and Ashley coordinated with the Surgery Department at Albany Medical Center…

The Melodies Center is the only provider of care for children and teens with cancer and blood disorders in the Capital Region. Riley held two drives this year to benefit the children at The Melodies Center: 1) Toys and 2) Fun band aids. She raised awareness about Albany Med’s program and pediatric health care by…

The mission of the Moon Catcher Project is “to optimize girls’ lives worldwide by removing barriers related to menstruation. We envision a world where all girls participate fully in their lives and communities.” They help girls in developing countries by providing them sustainable, washable MoonCatcher kits and a reproductive education program. Allie raised awareness about…