The United Way of Washington County (UWWC) invites students, who are sophomores, juniors or seniors who attend any of the high schools (Avella Senior High School, Bentworth High School, Burgettstown Area High School, Canon McMillan Senior High School, Chartiers-Houston High School, Fort Cherry High School, McGuffey High School, Peters Township High School, Trinity High School, Washington High School) or is home schooled in our service area (Service Area List) to complete a project (ideas listed at the end of document) OR be nominated by a high school or one of our 20 nonprofit partners, who volunteer and deserve to be recognized, to participate in the Student Ambassadors Program. The purpose of the Student Ambassadors Program is to offer opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to express their ability of leadership, passion, and service by creating projects or by volunteering at one of our nonprofit partners that will impact their community.
The high school sophomore, junior or senior is asked to consider producing a project or selecting a project listed at the end of this document that demonstrates real community impact that exemplifies the UWWC’s mission statement, to unite people, resources, and organizations to improve lives in Washington County. The project must be tied back to the UWWC vision of a community where everyone achieves their human potential through education, financial stability, and healthy lives. We are encouraging the students to be creative with their ideas for projects that demonstrate community impact while raising awareness and/or funds for the United Way of Washington County!
By participating in the Student Ambassadors Program, not only would they be helping our community but will also become eligible to be nominated for the annual M. Kathleen Ramsey Student Volunteer of the Year Award. This award, which includes a $500 scholarship donated by an anonymous donor, will be presented at the Annual Campaign Celebration on May 30, 2024. Students with the most unique and impactful projects will be considered with one student selected for this award. We also will consider for this award those students who are currently volunteering at one or more of our nonprofit partner organizations listed on our website to be nominated by a staff member.
- By Friday, January 12, 2024, interested high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are required to turn in their submission applications online via the United Way of Washington County website. Applications should identify their project ideas and goals. Those nonprofit partners who plan to nominate a student who volunteers at their organizations should submit their nominations by this date.
- By Friday, January 26, 2024, participating students’ projects should be completed with summaries of all projects submitted. will provide a milestone update (a summary of the progress of your project).
- By Friday, March 29, 2024, the lead Student Ambassador will be notified that they have been selected as the 2023 M. Kathleen Ramsey Student Volunteer of the Year Award.
- On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the Student Ambassador Awardee will be asked to present a recap of their project to the United Way of Washington County Board of Directors via an in-person presentation or by video.
- On Thursday, May 30, 2024, the 2023 M. Kathleen Ramsey Student Volunteer Award will be presented to the selected Student Ambassador Awardee at the Annual Campaign Celebration.
List of possible projects for participating students to consider for to raise funds for the United Way of Washington County’s Community Impact Fund, collect items to be donated, volunteer their time while raising awareness of the United Way of Washington County mission:
- Ask permission to set up a booth at the home football game this fall to raise awareness of the United Way in their community and accept donations for the Community Impact Fund
- Make the Grade Fundraiser – solicit pledges from family and friends to be fulfilled based on grades received for the first and second academic quarters
- Shave or Color Your Hair – Reach X dollar amount of money raised and in turn, you would shave or color your hair
- Organize a group and hold a car wash
- Organize a group and hold a dog wash
- In your neighborhood, sell your carved pumpkins prior to Halloween for X dollar amount
- Offer your services to rake leaves in your neighborhood and ask for donations for the Community Impact Fund
- Set up a gift-wrapping center for the holidays
- Work with a local florist to sell prepaid corsages for the big dance
- Launch a Crowdfunding Campaign to raise funds for United Way of Washington County’s Community Impact Fund
- Ask for donations from family and friends instead of gifts for your birthday – if your birthday isn’t this time of year, do it in memory of someone
- Hold a video game tournament - some of the proceeds are donated
- Collect donations of new gloves, mittens, hats, and scarves to be donated
- Collect hygiene items for women in shelters to be distributed by UWWC to nonprofit partners
- Collect diapers and baby wipes to be distributed by UWWC to nonprofit partners
- Spent some time at an assistant living facility to visit those who don’t get visitors often
- Volunteer at the local library; be a storyteller for the little kiddos
- Organize a group to pick up litter in your community
*Any additional questions, please email: office@unitedwaywashco.org