Monthly Archives: April 2011

Forrest Mance “Keeps It Going!” With a Dodgeball Tournament Tradition

When we launched the Keep It! Campaign, one of the core ideas was that our success or failure would be directly related to how well we were able to harness the “Power of Ten”. The key to this strategy was the idea of multiplication. Raising funds is certainly critical, but it’s even more important to “Keep It Going!” by connecting others to the cause. As we have moved forward, a number of key individuals have helped us to unlock the “Power of Ten”. Their stories are as diverse as they are inspiring. Each has connected a wide range of people to the project, raised significant funds to support the cause, and brought their own personal talents and interests to the project. Through a new feature entitled “Keep It! Going”, we will salute these champions by sharing their stories and recognizing their contribution with a simple keychain created by the children of Ivory Park.

When Forrest Mance was a sophomore at Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, PA, a world cultures course introduced him to the challenges facing impoverished communities in South Africa. The service-minded Mance was touched by what he saw, and he wanted to help. But though Mance had the motivation, he wasn’t sure how to transform his inspiration into a strategy that could impact people who live thousands of miles away. Enter the Keep It! Campaign.

Forrest Mance (second from right) and fellow student leaders at the June 2009 PASC Advanced Gold Workshop.

Mance had previously met Keep It! founder Bob Tryanski at a PASC summer workshop. When he learned about Tryanski’s work with the Campaign for Ivory Park, he knew that he’d found the perfect way to take action. Mance encouraged fellow student council members to embrace Keep It! and became the driving force behind a dodgeball tournament designed to benefit Ivory Park. He asked the high school news broadcasting group to make a promotional video advertising the tournament and posted flyers designed to spur interest. He expanded involvement by enlisting teams of teachers and students throughout the school district. As a result, Mance and the Norwin student council recruited 18 teams and raised $700 for the campaign.

“The great thing about Forrest’s willingness to take initiative at Norwin is that he was a catalyst for sustained support at his high school.  Forrest graduated from Norwin last year, but the dodgeball tournament is happening again this year.  Sustainable support is the key to our success in Ivory Park,” says Tryanski.

Mance’s involvement with the Keep It! Campaign helped to make him a global citizen, and he believes that all students need to be aware of issues affecting people in their own communities and abroad.  His efforts also allowed him to practice valuable leadership skills. “Students need to realize the potential they have to change lives, not only in their own communities, but around the globe,” he says. “Through the campaign, I learned that it was possible for a high school student to make a huge contribution, and I also learned about planning and goal setting. Watching the event come together and realizing that I was able to directly improve someone’s life situation was satisfying.”       

Forrest Mance (front) participates in an outdoor team building adventure at the PASC Advance Gold Workshop in 2009.

Mance graduated from high school in 2010 and is now a student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to his studies, he devotes his time to volunteer work and is also an active member of a chess club and a rock band. In the short term, he hopes to graduate from Duquesne’s professional pharmacy program. “I’m not sure what the future holds after that,” he notes. “But, the leadership skills I learned through my experiences with the PASC and the Keep It! Campaign will be critical to whatever path I travel.”  The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Forrest Mance, a campaign champion who “Keeps It Going!”

To learn how to host a dodgeball tournament at your school, visit www.keepitcampaign.com/dodgeball

Riverstone Montessori Academy: Student Leadership in Action

A fundamental goal of the Keep It! Campaign has been to build a national network of student leaders with the skills and the desire to create sustainable solutions in their own communities and beyond.  At Riverstone Montessori Academy in Marietta, GA, the Keep It! initiative combined with Montessori ideals provided a perfect opportunity for students to practice social entrepreneurship.

Lead Middle School Teacher Sofia Tobon explains that, along with academics, Riverstone’s developmentally based curriculum encourages social and emotional growth.  “Children need opportunities to meaningfully interact and connect with people around the globe. These activities nurture their spirit of compassion and help them to understand that they have the ability to positively impact the lives of others,” says Tobon. “After watching the Ivory Park video presented by Bob Tryanski, the students realized that things they take for granted are not possibilities for the children in Ivory Park.”

For eighth grader Maggie Cummings, the story of Ivory Park motivated her to take action by initiating a carnival fundraiser completely organized by students. Assisted by student co-planners Connor Nickerson and Dallas Brady, Cummings and her team ran a successful project from start to finish. “Maggie is a natural leader,” notes Tobon. “She is extremely organized and detail oriented, and she loves to take on managerial roles. If she takes on a project, she will see it through to the end with no detail spared. It was impressive to see people calling to speak to her directly instead of asking for the teachers.”

In spite of uncooperative weather, the carnival was a big success and raised more than $700 for Ivory Park. Cummings is pleased with the results and hopes that the carnival can be used as a replicable fundraising strategy next year. ”After seeing the presentation on Ivory Park, I was inspired by the stories that were told and our ability to help children in South Africa,” says Cummings. “Since I like to do fundraising, this seemed like the perfect cause. I’ve been thinking about doing a carnival fundraiser and the Campaign for Ivory Park was the perfect fit. I’m pleased with the results and it would be great if Riverstone could expand on it next year.”

Tobon believes that meaningful activities such as the fundraiser for Ivory Park benefit her students academically, professionally and socially. “Academically, students learn factual information about different cultures and international issues that are impacting our planet. Professionally, they learn and practice research, organization, presentation, planning, and management skills. And socially and emotionally, they benefit from working together to help others who are not as fortunate. Knowing that their efforts, even at this age, can help someone like them on the other side of the world have a better life has a profound effect upon them as they continue to grow and find their place in society.”

The Keep It! Campaign salutes the students and staff at Riverstone Montessori Academy for their contribution to Ivory Park and for their efforts to build a community of social entrepreneurs.

Introducing "Keep It! Going"

When we launched the Keep It! Campaign, one of the core ideas was that our success or failure would be directly related to how well we were able to harness the “Power of Ten”.

The key to this strategy was the idea of multiplication. Raising funds is certainly critical, but it’s even more important to “Keep It Going!” by connecting others to the cause. As we have moved forward, a number of key individuals have helped us to unlock the “Power of Ten”. Their stories are as diverse as they are inspiring. Each has connected a wide range of people to the project, raised significant funds to support the cause, and brought their own personal talents and interests to the project. Through a new feature entitled “Keep It! Going”, we will salute these champions by sharing their stories and recognizing their contribution with a simple keychain created by the children of Ivory Park.

Todd Slobodnyak and the Zombies of Westminster “Keep It Going!”

At Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, Humans are fighting for survival, and this time, the opponent is more threatening than a mid-term chemistry exam. Zombies are on the loose, and their main objective is to tag as many Humans as possible. With socks and Nerf guns as their only instruments of defense, Humans are losing ground. Fortunately for them, there are no real losers on this battlefield. Instead, the efforts of Humans and Zombies alike have resulted in a victory for the Keep It! Campaign.

College student Todd Slobodnyak is the organizer for the Westminster version of Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ), a trendy game of moderated tag that is spreading through campuses across the nation. Slobodnyak explains that the popularity of HvZ has made it a perfect way to raise funds and awareness for the Keep It! Campaign. He describes the fundraiser as a week-long, campus-wide game of tag. Last fall, Slobodynak and the HvZ crew raised $350 for the cause. He plans to hold the event once a semester and hopes to earn at least $700 in donations during the upcoming spring competition.

Students at Westminster College team up for Ivory Park in a spirited game of Humans vs. Zombies.

Slobodnyak first learned about Keep It! through his work with the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils and PASC alum and Keep It! founder Bob Tryanski. “When I was in high school, I was a PASC delegate for three years. Now as an alum, I try my best to help out by giving back,” he says. “Bob Tryanski has been a good friend and a role model. When I heard about the Keep It! Campaign, I wanted to get involved. It’s a great program with a great purpose.”

In addition to his support of the campaign, Slobodnyak has found other ways to stay connected to his leadership roots. He is a valuable staff member at the PASC Advanced Gold summer workshops and has agreed to serve as a mentor to a PASC Regional Representative throughout the 2011 Keep It! Dodgeball Tournament contest.

“Todd’s commitment to the Keep It! Campaign is the perfect example of how you can harness the Power of Ten,” says Campaign founder, Bob Tryanski. “It goes way beyond merely making a difference. Todd has harnessed his connections with PASC alums, PASC workshop delegates and staff, and brought them together with his swim team, student organizations, and other friends at Westminster. Those connections have broadened our network of support for Ivory Park and helped us to discover this great project model – the HvZ tournament as a way to ‘Keep It Going’ on college campuses.”

When he is not herding Zombies or working with the PASC, Slobodnyak is an avid swimmer and busy college student. He is currently pursuing a degree in marine biology with a minor in secondary education and is considering a career in aquatic ecology. Whether he is serving as a mentor to student leaders or organizing a fundraiser in support of a community, Slobodnyak is always looking for ways to give back. Wherever his future path might lead, it is certain that it will be shaped by his altruistic nature and a winning desire to serve. The Keep It! Campaign is proud to honor Todd Slobodnyak, a campaign champion who “Keeps It Going!”

For tips on organizing a Humans vs. Zombies fundraiser to benefit the Keep It! Campaign, contact Todd Slobodnyak at slobodtd@westminster.edu.