How many Champions have been honored?
Since 1995, over 2,500 Champions who have provided over 750,000 hours of service have been honored.
How many schools do Champions come from?
Champions have been recognized in over 140 high schools in the greater Philadelphia region.
What kind of service do Champions provide?
Students have addressed issues as diverse as hunger, homelessness, literacy, poverty, and the environment. Please click here to learn more about how our Champions have changed their schools, communities and the world.
Past services include:
- Developed a homework club at a homeless shelter
- Served as a friendly visitor, providing support and comfort to disabled residents
- Created a non-profit program to raise awareness and funds for research for a rare form of epilepsy, which has already collected $25,000
- Recruited and organized teenagers for community service efforts
- Organized blood drives
- Partnered with SEPTA to distribute 2,000 books and videos for elementary school children
- Worked with the Special Olympics
- Worked with at-risk and abused children
- Organized a shoe drive for 6 million people in Argentina as a living memorial for the victims of the Holocaust
- Participated in Operation Smile Again
- Raised funds for victims of September 11th
- Located homes for abandoned animals
- Collected and restored thousands of pairs of eyeglasses for distribution in Mexico
- Sponsored a youth driven diversity conference held at Villanova University
How do I apply to become a Champion of Caring?
You must complete an application, which you can download from this web site. (Click here) You may also request an application by emailing Champions of Caring or check with your school guidance counselor. To request an application for yourself or for someone you feel should to be honored as a Champion of Caring please contact our office via phone or email. [Contact Information]
What are the qualifications to be honored as a Champion of Caring?
High school students in the greater Philadelphia region who have committed themselves to improving their community and have been involved in ongoing service are eligible. Eligible students should download the application, complete it and submit it to the address indicated on the application. Teens who are chosen to be Champions of Caring are selected based on their character and community service history, as well as strong recommendations from individuals who have observed/supervised them at their community service site.
What are the benefits of being a Champion?
As a Champion, you will:
- Be acknowledged by the local media and your school
- Receive a letter of recommendation that can be used for colleges or employment
- Meet other young people who are engaged in services
- Be invited to attend our Ambassadors of Caring Leadership Program and other Champions of Caring events
What are the qualifications to be honored as an Ambassador of Caring?
After being honored as a Champion of Caring, you are invited to join the Ambassadors of Caring Leadership Program.
What are the benefits of becoming an Ambassador of Caring?
Through the Ambassadors of Caring program, you will:
- Receive ongoing support and mentoring in developing an impact project to improve your community locally or globally
- Learn the leadership skills that you need to take your service to the next level and become a social entrepreneur.
- Participate in retreats, workshops, social events, and learn from experts about topics such as public speaking, grant writing, budgeting and fundraising, and professional and social etiquette.
- Have opportunities to represent Champions of Caring to the media, and at local conferences and events
- Receive mentorship from alumnae and community leaders
- Have fun, meet new friends from a wide range of schools and backgrounds who are also interested in service
- Receive a reference letter upon completion of the program
- Be informed of scholarship and financial aid opportunities
How many Champions have participated as an Ambassador of Caring?
Over 250 Champions have been part of the Ambassadors of Caring Leadership Program.
Which schools have participated in the Journey of a Champion School program?
Bartram High School for Human Services, Carver High School for Science and Engineering, Frankford, Martin Luther King, Olney, Parkway Northwest, Simon Gratz, Overbrook, Kensington, Northeast, and University City High Schools have participated in the Journey of Champions School program.
Harding, Lingelbach, Harrison and Leeds Middle Schools have participated in our Middle Grades Program.
How many students have been enrolled in the Journey program?
Over 7,500 high school students from Philadelphia and Lancaster have been enrolled in the Journey program.
What honors and awards has Champions of Caring received?
Champions of Caring and its Founder and President, Barbara Shaiman, have been honored by:
- The Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors in Philadelphia:
1990 “Mordechai Anielewicz” Award - The Archdiocese of Philadelphia:
1998 “Servant of God” Award - Hunter College: 1999 Hunter College Hall of Fame
- The Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association:
2000 F. Sean Paretta Service Award for Community Service - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
2001 “Best Practices” Award - The Philadelphia Inquirer:
2001 “Citizen Hero” - The National Association of Women Business Owners:
2002 “Women Making History” Award - The NFL and Philadelphia Eagles:
2003 Community Quarterback Award - State Farm Insurance Foundations and the National Youth Leadership Council:
- 2006 State Farm Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award
- 2007 Daily Points of Light Award
Has Champions of Caring worked globally?
Yes, Champions of Caring has partnered with MaAfrika Tikkun, a non-governmental organization in Cape Town, South Africa, of which Nelson Mandela is honorary chairman.
Is Champions of Caring only for high school students?
No. You are never too young or old to become a Champion. We offer workshops and programs for people and groups of all ages, including corporations, entrepreneurs, educators, college students, members of faith-based communities, Parent-Teacher Associations, and intergenerational groups.
What is the goal of Champions of Caring?
To create cultures of caring in schools, communities and the workplace.