Number of Participants: 32
Hours Donated: 45
Value of Time Served: $12,168
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Competitive Cheerleading
School: John Jay High School
Date: January 4, 2024
Location:
John Jay High School
North Salem Road, Cross River
NY
About:
Volunteerism is a huge part of our team’s mission. Over the past year, we have prepared and served food to homeless individuals in Poughkeepsie with HOAM (Hope On A Mission) on 3 separate occasions, worked the carnival booths at the Autism Walk in Dutchess County, shopped and provided Christmas gifts and meals for a local family and cheered on participants at the Brielle GraceBreast Cancer Foundation walk.
Our athletes have volunteered their time at both the East Fishkill Community Day and the Sensory Stepping Stones Family Fun Day by making balloon animals and face painting. Our team also works very closely with our town’s youth cheer program (Southern Dutchess Patriots) as assistant coaches for their clinics and regular season practices. We dedicated our annual cheer competition on October 15th to raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Through a “Go Pink” event shirt and other fundraising, we were able to donate $1300 to BCRF in memory of the loved ones
who we have lost or who are currently battling breast cancer.
who we have lost or who are currently battling breast cancer.
In November, our teams participated in the John Jay HS Veterans Day ceremony by assisting with the placement/removal
of the flags, as well as visiting our local elementary school to read books about Veterans Day and write creative poems about what it means to honor our veterans with the fourth grade students. We also had one of our team moms come in to speak about her experience as an Navy veteran/nurse, as well as a team grandpa to talk to the athletes about his time serving in the US Army in the 1940’s as a paratrooper.
of the flags, as well as visiting our local elementary school to read books about Veterans Day and write creative poems about what it means to honor our veterans with the fourth grade students. We also had one of our team moms come in to speak about her experience as an Navy veteran/nurse, as well as a team grandpa to talk to the athletes about his time serving in the US Army in the 1940’s as a paratrooper.
In December, a group of our cheerleaders visited a local elementary school and spent a couple hours judging a holiday door contest. The theme of the decorating competition was “Be the One” and each class had to show their holiday spirit and incorporate how they will inspire others to “be the one” to be kind, create change, help others and be a shining and guiding light for others. It was a perfect fit since this is a theme for our team as well.
Most recently, many of our team members and parents prepared 12 trays of pasta and enough rolls, drinks and cookies to serve 150 homeless individuals in Poughkeepsie. This experience was game changing for so many of our athletes who weren’t aware of the level of need just 20 minutes away from their home. We believe that everyone deserves a hot meal, meaningful conversation and to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter his/her circumstances. Working with HOAM (Hope on a Mission) is not only helpful to those in need, but we are helped in so many ways as well.
At the start of the season, each John Jay Cheerleader received an American flag shoe charm to place on their sneaker laces to remind them of what it means to be a Patriot. Patriots
are caring, responsible, respectful and always willing to go the extra mile for a teammate or neighbor in need, on or off the field. We are proud of our Patriots and look forward to continuing this tradition of
community service in years to come! Once a Patriot, ALWAYS a Patriot!
are caring, responsible, respectful and always willing to go the extra mile for a teammate or neighbor in need, on or off the field. We are proud of our Patriots and look forward to continuing this tradition of
community service in years to come! Once a Patriot, ALWAYS a Patriot!