Fort Couch Reach Out exceeds $36,000 to help others

The effort was spearheaded by the Fort Couch Student Council and its sponsors, Ms. Rebecca Maley and Ms. Alexandra Neely, with support from the school’s administration, teachers and PTSO. All six teams of seventh and eighth graders raced to collect the most donations. For the first time ever, two teams tied; Team 5 and Team 6 were the highest contributing teams.

For the last 30 years, Fort Couch Middle School students have supported local and international causes through the school’s annual Reach Out campaign.

“Reach Out is a longstanding Fort Couch tradition dating back to 1994 to encourage students to give back during the holiday season,” Erin Stehle, Fort Couch Middle School principal, said. “In 1994, they raised $600 to donate to the USC Police Department to give gift cards for families; this has grown to over $20,000 annually in recent years! Reach Out continues to grow every year, and I feel fortunate to see how far it has come.”

Reach Out is a student-run and student-centered effort. Throughout the month of December, students collect donations by reaching out to friends, family, and neighbors and by offering their services to the community.

“Our seventh and eighth graders have done countless endeavors in order to fundraise on behalf of these organizations,” Ms. Neely said. “Whether it was walking door-to-door in the snow, selling hot chocolate in neighborhoods with friends, or making intricate goodies for sale, our students understood the mission of service.”

The seventh and eighth graders were fully committed to raising funds on behalf of their four causes – Sam Strong, Bike MS, Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation, and Giant Eagle Gift Cards with the Upper St. Clair Township Police Department.

“They recognized that their determination and efforts were imperative in order to ensure that these organizations received their needed donations,” Ms. Neely said. “We are beyond proud of their selflessness during this time of year!”

Community service projects offer an opportunity for students to strengthen their ties to the community.

“In the midst of the joys and hectic schedules of the holiday season, students have a chance to pause and reflect on how they can make a difference to those who experience hardship,” Ms. Stehle said. “Students express pride in their service efforts and share their enthusiasm for giving back.”

The monies raised will be divided among the following organizations:

• Primary Cause for 2024: Sam Strong
  The Sam Strong GoFundMe benefits Sam Levine and the Levine family in the battle against DIPG, an invasive childhood cancer that forms in the brain stem. It is extremely rare, inoperable, and difficult to treat. Funds raised will support the family as Sam participates in clinical trials and treatments.
   
• Bike MS
  Bike MS is a series of fundraising events for Multiple Sclerosis research that involves thousands of people cycling hundreds of miles around the country. Eighth grade science teacher Mr. Calvetti leads the Fort Couch (USC) team. This local team trains year-round to cycle over 150 miles from north of Pittsburgh to Lake Erie in two days for Bike MS. All money these USC participants raise is used locally to help people with MS with practical needs such as wheelchairs, medicine, and living adaptations. Funds also support research to find a cure.
   
• Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation
  The Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation began when a group from Pittsburgh sent money to Haiti to fund relief efforts after the Haitian earthquake in 2010. The YJCF now runs an orphanage and school in Haiti where children are some of the poorest in the world. Mrs. Lemon, our French teacher, leads this charity effort at Fort Couch to maintain the strong relationship between the orphanage school and Pittsburgh. With the financial support of Fort Couch students and others, the children are safe and are able to continue their education.
   
• Giant Eagle Gift Cards with the Upper St. Clair Township Police Department
  Each year, Fort Couch donates $5,000 in Giant Eagle gift cards to the USC Township Police Department. Officers hand-deliver these gift cards to families in the Upper St. Clair community who would benefit from extra help during the holiday season.