Number of Participants: 94
Hours Donated: 200
Value of Time Served: $654,052
Event Type: Civic & Community
Activity: Club
School: Crookston High School
Date: December 17, 2025
Location:
Crookston High School
Fisher Avenue, Crookston
MN
About:
Members of the Crookston Pirates LEO Club helped make the holiday season brighter for local families by volunteering their time to wrap gifts for the Toys for Tots program. Working together, students prepared donated toys for distribution to children in need, helping ensure that more families in the community can experience joy and celebration during the holidays.
The hands-on service project gave students the opportunity to directly support a meaningful cause while strengthening teamwork, leadership, and empathy. Through their efforts, LEO Club members demonstrated a strong commitment to giving back and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
The Crookston High School LEO Club includes 94 student members in grades 9–12, all actively engaged in community service. From September through May each year, the club completes approximately 200 service projects, reflecting an extraordinary level of student leadership and dedication. Whether supporting holiday initiatives like Toys for Tots or organizing additional outreach efforts throughout the school year, Crookston students continue to show how youth-led service can create lasting community impact.
This commitment to service reflects the core mission of the LEO Club, which focuses on developing leadership, encouraging volunteerism, and fostering personal growth through meaningful community involvement. The club’s efforts extend beyond seasonal projects. During Valentine’s week, members also organized a baking initiative, creating heart-shaped cookies to raise funds for senior scholarships supported by both the LEO Club and the Crookston Lions.
The Crookston High School LEO Club’s dedication has also been recognized at the highest level. The club, along with advisor Linda Morgan of the Crookston School District, was recently honored with the Leo Club Award of Excellence for the 2024–2025 school year. This achievement is especially significant as it marks the 35th consecutive year the Crookston LEO Club has received the prestigious award — a distinction unmatched by any other Leo Club worldwide.
Originally established on January 24, 1991, the Crookston LEO Club has built a remarkable legacy of service. The continued support of the Crookston Public School District, including its longstanding commitment to the LEO Club Advisor position, held by Linda Morgan for the past 15 years, has been a key factor in the program’s sustained success.
Through consistent service, strong mentorship, and a shared passion for helping others, the Crookston Pirates LEO Club continues to set an inspiring example of how student leadership can strengthen communities while preparing young people to lead with purpose today and in the future.
