One act of compassion sparked a legacy… Sparrow Clubs USA

THE BEGINNING:

In 1992, six-month-old Michael Leeland desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. With no way to pay for the procedure, Michael’s parents, Jeff and Kristi, didn’t know where to turn. Jeff taught a class where Dameon, a big-hearted kid, was a student. After hearing his teacher’s dilemma, Dameon emptied his bank account, offering to donate his entire savings—$60. A chain reaction of giving followed. Students and staff raised an incredible $227,000 over four short weeks, and Michael ultimately received his life-saving transplant. Four years after Dameon’s gift, Sparrow Clubs was born using a simple service model that ignites compassion and empathy in school children across the U.S.

ABOUT SPARROW CLUBS USA

Sparrow Clubs not only provides financial and emotional support for children in medical need and their families, but also empowers kids (elementary to college age) to help others through charitable service in their communities. The Sparrow Clubs program teaches life lessons in compassion and selflessness through building relationships between a Sparrow family, a school student body, and our community. Sick kids get help, healthy kids become heroes and communities experience change.

A SPARROW

A Sparrow is a child in substantial medical need; referred by a hospital, social worker or community member.

A SPARROW CLUB SCHOOL

A Sparrow Club involves a group of students or an entire school wanting to make a difference in the lives of others who come together to serve your community in order to help a Sparrow child! A Sparrow Project begins once a school and a project sponsor are found and matched with a child. A Sparrow Project cannot happen without a business sponsor(s). When a full sponsorship of $4060 is secured the Sparrow Project can begin.

Once students learn about their Sparrow child, they are challenged to make a difference through community service. Each school is challenged to complete a minimum of 256 hours of community service to others, on behalf of their Sparrow. For every hour of service completed (up to the 256 challenge mark), kids earn $10 for their Sparrow, paid by the project sponsor. Project sponsors donate this money based on the expectation that the students will do service to earn it for their Sparrow. Additional fundraising for your school is not required, as we focus on service learning. However, many schools choose to do additional fundraising for their Sparrow Family but these funds must be placed in the family’s Sparrow account. These funds of $2560 are then accessed by the family to assist with medical expenses and basic needs.

Students are required to fill out Sparrow Community Service Vouchers after they have completed hours of community service. The vouchers are later given to the Sparrow Family as a gift. These vouchers not only show how their child inspired students to serve in their community but contain heartfelt responses that the Sparrow can treasure forever.