The class projects were created to expand each participants awareness of the impact servant leadership can have on the community as well as themselves. It is a significant part of the commitment to the program and is done outside the classroom. The project allows each class to use the tools and knowledge of our county that they have acquired during their leadership journey. To us the process is as important as the outcome of the project.
1995
This was the inaugural class, which felt that they wanted to assist in promoting this new exciting and important program of The Chamber. The class developed and produced a video that promoted the concept of Leadership Blair County and their personal experiences. This video was then shown on the public access channel and at service club organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis.
1996
This class developed the LBC Alumni Scholarship picnic to help raise scholarship funds to help insure diversity. After two years the picnic became a function of the LBC Alumni Association. It continues today and has become part of the Orientation for the new class each year. To date this event has raised $19,000 for scholarships.
1997
This class was concerned about youth leaving the area and wanted to create the type of Career Fair that targeted students earlier in their academic life and exposed them to many career choices. They developed a program that was presented to eighth grade students in the Altoona Area School District (approximately 450 students). Twelve career clusters were developed with three volunteers solicited for each cluster. This Career Fair was unique in that the presenters moved through the school and met with classrooms of students. Every eighth grade student saw each of the presentations. The first year there were over 80 volunteer presenters. The following year the class expanded the Career Fair to include all 8 th grade students in Blair County. This project is still in operation today through The Chamber’s BASICS program.
1998
This class wanted to assist non-profits by creating a clearinghouse as a way to advertise their needs and to obtain interested volunteers. The class developed a survey, which was sent to non-profit organizations asking for information on the organization, what they needed help with, what type of skills was needed, time commitment etc. A web site was then created along with a listing of LBC Alumni that were interested in helping the community. Unfortunately this project was only operational through 1999. None of the non-profits would step forward and take ownership.
1999
This class developed an interactive program for high school seniors on the importance of registering to vote and then actually voting. The presentation included an interactive activity that visibly demonstrated the changes in the outcome of an election based on the percentage of voters. When possible they had an elected official attend the assembly. They then had the elected official video tape their comments.
2000
This class refurbished a playground for Child Advocates in Altoona. They sanded, painted existing equipment; assembled two new pieces of equipment, distributed tons of wood chips and landscaped the area. Through their efforts Child Advocates could receive matching funds.
2001
This class created a flower garden and butterfly garden at Valley View Home, which is the county’s nursing home. This project enabled the residents to have a beautiful garden to sit in and an opportunity to watch the butterflies.
2002
This class assisted Child Advocates at a new location in Tyrone. They installed sidewalks from the building to a playground area. They also landscaped the entire area at the new facility. Once again Child Advocates could receive matching funds.
2003
This class assisted Rails to Trails with a building that Rails to Trails had recently purchased and was refurbishing with the assistance of volunteers. This class took on the task of obtaining donations and then installing drywall in the three-story building.
2004
This class wanted to assist our Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum that had been experiencing financial difficulty. The Museum was preparing for the 150 th Anniversary of the completion of the Horseshoe Curve. They determined that they wanted to construct a picnic pavilion at this national historic landmark. An architect in the class designed the pavilion to resemble a pavilion in that era. The class then solicited monetary donations as well as materials to complete the project. They partnered with the Blair County Builders Association for the actual construction. They also raised the money to purchase picnic tables. Through this project many people now have a picnic area to enjoy.
2005
This class became aware that Amtrak was going to discontinue the stop in Tyrone unless a passenger shelter was installed on the site. This class came together to install a new passenger shelter and also landscape the area. They met this summer to do touch up work and hold a picnic.
2006
This class very much wanted to touch the lives of underprivileged children. They undertook the re-furbishing of a playground that is owned by the City of Altoona in an intercity neighborhood. For this playground they needed to purchase equipment as well as install it. The class meet with the PTO’s in neighboring schools to solicit the buy-in of parents. They went door to door in the neighborhood explaining what they wanted to do and asking the neighbors to be guardians of the playground when it was completed. They held news conferences with the District Attorney’s office, representatives of the Attorney Generals Drug Task Force, the Mayor and Council of the City of Altoona. They supplied information to the neighborhood about the Neighborhood Watch program. They held six fundraisers and wrote grants applications to raised nearly $37,000. The playground equipment was installed in May, with some landscaping. In September they replaced several sidewalks and refurbished the basketball court. Members of the class are currently taking weekends to patrol the playground to make sure there is a presence and teaching the children how to care for it.
2007
This class decided that they wanted to assist the Miracle League that is building a baseball field for handicapped children. This field will permit children in Central Pennsylvania to play baseball without traveling long distances and perhaps for the first time even have the opportunity to play baseball. Many businesses in Blair County have donated time and money to make the field a reality. The class discovered that the Miracle League would like to have a picnic pavilion where families could meet and players that can’t tolerate large amounts of sun would have shelter. The class truly feels that every child deserves a change to play baseball.
Believing this they chose to raise monies to purchase a pre-fabricated picnic pavilion, tables and landscaping. Funds were raised through solicitation of businesses for donations, grants as well as a very successful dinner, dance, auction fundraiser that was baseball themed. They also partnered with the Blair Bedford County Builders Association to help construct the pavilion and are also working with groups for the landscaping so that it will be taken care of for the next several years.
2008
*Please Note: Any monies or materials that are needed for the class projects are the responsibility of the class to obtain either through fundraisers or donations.
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