North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact

Our students are living our mission, inspiring global citizens to create their future and live with purpose.

Inspired by A Long Walk to Water, our 5th graders were moved to make a difference for children in need. Through teamwork, creativity, and dedication, they organized fundraisers, shared their mission with the school community, and raised over $45,000 to build a school and water well in Honduras. Their hard work and determination show that even young students can create meaningful change, providing children with access to education, clean water, and hope for a brighter future.

Below three of our students share their story.

North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact - North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact

A recent photo from our school in Honduras, thanks to the support of our community.

It all started one day in reading class. We were reading a novel titled “A Long Walk to Water.”It's based on a true story of a young boy and his journey to safety during the Sudan civil war. Another part of the book is focused on a girl in a more present time period who has to walk miles barefoot just to retrieve clean water for her family. The entire class was devastated to learn that kids and adults around the world don’t have easy access to clean drinking water. Everyone’s first question was, “How can we help?” After all, we are just kids.

This beautiful story of hardships and challenges tugged at our hearts and made us want to make a change. I personally was heartbroken when I read it, but that heartbreak lit a fire in my soul to make a change. I talked to adults who might know something about how I could help. After doing some research, I created a letter to Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Malanowski, and Mrs. Groudan. They loved the idea and the planning began that day!

Our mission was to raise awareness about the issues we learned about while reading "A Long Walk to Water." Students were deeply impacted by the book's message and gained a greater understanding of how different life can be for families around the world.

NBPS student Lanie Feig, Levi Anderson, Kieran Standeffer and Joshua Dewey

A few days later, Mrs. Evans came into our class to brainstorm ideas for a fundraiser to help the cause. We had many but narrowed it down with a class vote. The ones we picked were the ones that stood out most to us. The entire class was overjoyed when we learned that we would be raising upwards of 50,000 dollars to build a school and a water well in Honduras. Nobody could believe that a bunch of 5th graders with a dream could actually make a difference in the world!

Everybody was excited to get to work on the fundraising campaign. Everyone deserves access to clean water and cleanliness; it’s a basic human necessity! I immediately got started making presentations and flyers after school. I, along with many others, created presentations to different grades to present the idea at grade level. I worked with other students to make the 1st grade one. All of us were ready to put the fundraiser in motion and make a difference.

North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact - North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact

NBPS student Aria Rudnick

After discussing our fundraising plans, we decided to create a website (www.foodforthepoor.org/nbps) to share our story and mission, which also included a donation link. The ‘24–‘25 5th grade class also organized several fundraisers, which included a school-wide dress-down day, a silent auction, and “Be a Teacher for the Day” privileges.

We also hosted a silent auction throughout the school, with parents and staff generously donating items such as a round of golf, personal training sessions, and a lunch and tour with the CEO of Food for the Poor, Ed Raine. I personally won the “lunch/tour” prize and was able to visit Food for the Poor’s headquarters located in Coconut Creek, FL. During my visit, I received a hands-on tour and learned about the organization's history and how it first began. It was an incredible experience, and I learned so much about their operations all over the world.

North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact - North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact

NBPS student Jackson Grossman with Ed Raine, CEO of Food for the Poor

The day after the auction closed, our class calculated the total funds raised. This fundraiser played a major role in helping us reach our $45,000 goal. All these fundraising efforts were crucial in raising the money needed to help build a much-needed school in Honduras.

Once we had finished the fundraiser, the goal hadn’t been reached yet. Christopher Evans, a high school student, helped us reach the goal by selling lemonade at his church. That last bit is how we were able to raise the money to renovate and refurbish a broken-down school that needed our help. When we heard that we finally reached our goal, kids were high fiving, crying happy tears, hugging, and celebrating our accomplishments. Now, children in Honduras can have quality education in a school as bright as they are. It felt incredible to be a part of something that was bigger than us. Now, we hope to continue our mission to dream big and help others, one fundraiser at a time.

North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact - North Broward Prep 5th Graders Making a Global Impact