First Non-Profit Fair Takes Place at Holliston High

Holliston High School’s Student Council opened up a wealth of potential opportunities for fellow students when it held its first ever non-profit fair on March 31st, 2017.
The event, held in the Holliston High School library, exposed more than 200 HHS students to volunteer opportunities available to them within the Metrowest community.
“We hear from students all the time that they want volunteer opportunities, but it is sometimes difficult to find opportunities for students. The Student Council is hoping this event will help bridge that gap and bring students volunteers together with local non-profits in a meaningful way,” says Mr. Quindley, the Student Council advisor.
Student Council members who helped put the event together included Student Council president Harriet Koblenzer, Aidan Krantz, Alyssa Winn and Grace Lucey, with a great amount of help from Abha Athawale and Lauren Salley.
Koblenzer says she was introduced to nonprofits when she volunteered with the Metrowest Foundations’ Youth in Philanthropy Program. She says the organization introduced her to the world of nonprofits and taught her what they were. The event, she said, was about helping students “make connections,” with nonprofits. “I would love if this became a trend within Massachusetts schools,” she said.
“We really wanted to help students build leadership and communication skills, and they have to make the connections themselves,” said Alyssa Winn. The fair, she says, helped introduce students to some volunteer opportunities that exist in the area.
The goal of the Holliston Student Council was to bring diverse group of nonprofits to the fair. “We thought if we could bring a variety (of nonprofits), students would be super interested,” said Aidan Krantz
“A lot of people don’t know where to start or if there are even nonprofits they have a passion for,” said Grace Lucey. She said she hoped students would see the event as a first step in that direction. Abha Athawale agreed, saying she felt it would be most beneficial for young freshmen, who can learn to make more and more connections throughout high school.
Non-profit organizations from Holliston and beyond were invited to set up a free booth area to interact with prospective student volunteers. Some nonprofits that participated in the fair included:
• Habitat for Humanity of Metrowest/Greater Worcester (www.habitatmwgw.org): a group that partners with local organizations to build and sell homes at an affordable cost. Habitat for Humanity recently partnered with Holliston Housing to build two homes in town. Seventeen families entered a lottery for those homes, and two won. The families that will live in the homes are expected to partner with the organization and put sweat equity into the home. Visit the website for more information.
• The Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center (www.hopkintonrespite.com): a place that provides emotional and physical support for individuals with disabilities and their families.
• Foundation for Metrowest (www.foundationformetrowest.org): which serves 33 towns loosely bound by Rtes. 128 and 495. The organization promotes philanthropy and helps donors maximize the impact of their local giving, serving as a resource for local nonprofit organizations by connecting donors with nonprofits, and nonprofits with each other across the region. In fact, the fourth annual Spring Inspiration Breakfast will take place on May 4, 2017, at 9 a.m. at the Wellesley Country Club. All proceeds from this event will support the Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy programming, which involves young people in identifying needs and raising funds for their communities.
• Amazing Things Art Center (www.amazingthings.org): a Framingham organization formed to bring together a diverse community of artists, arts supporters and arts appreciators of all ages, cultures and interests in a supportive and nurturing environment.
• Timothy O’Connell Foundation (www.timsteam.org): This Holliston-based organization in honor of Timothy O’Connell raises money for research for cures for acute myeloid leukemia and other cancers affecting children. The foundation has granted over $400,000 in scholarships and grants to worthy recipients, including Make-A-Wish, The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber, Boston Children’s Hospital, Camp Sunshine and more. The organization just held its annual Orange Appeal, and this month, on May 13, 2017, will hold its all-ages 4th Annual Wiffle Ball Tournament at Holliston High School from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.,
• Project Just Because (www.projectjustbecause.org): a grass roots charity headquartered in Hopkinton that provide $8.5 million annually in donated goods and services, including food, clothing, toiletries and other basic necessities to individuals and families in need.
• Family Promise Metrowest (www.familypromisemetrowest.org): a Natick-based group that organizes volunteers from 19 area congregations (in Holliston, Christ the King Church) that open their doors to homeless families for a week at a time 3-4 times a year, helping these families to get on their feet. In fact, one of the families helped by Family Promise Metrowest was the winner, out of 17 families, of the lottery for one of the two affordable Habitat for Humanity dwellings recently built in Holliston.
• Upper Charles Trail (www.uppercharlestrail.org): 25-mile trail that incorporates the communities of Milford, Ashland, Sherborn, Holliston, and Hopkinton. In Holliston, the Friends of the Holliston Trail have a website, (hollistontrails.org) and will be sponsoring their 3rd annual 7K Trail Run/1K Fun Run coming up on June 11th. Visit their website for details.
• Metrowest YMCA (www.metrowestymca.org): a charitable organization that is for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.