Prin Giving Day

Recently, while many Principians arrived on campus for a regular school day, Upper School students prepared for a day that was anything but typical. Instead of attending classes, they spent the day giving to others in settings ranging from parks and museums to assisted living centers, a crisis nursery, and Christian Science churches and care facilities.

For more than two decades, Prin Giving Day has provided the opportunity for Upper Schoolers to serve others. This year was no different. Students served meals at the Sunshine Mission homeless shelter, cleaned chairs at the Butterfly House, cut down honeysuckle at Queeny Park, gave manicures to residents at Sunrise Assisted Living, and played with young children at the Crisis Nursery.

Coordinating nearly 250 students, faculty, and staff, while balancing the needs of more than one dozen organizations was no easy task, but sophomore Connor Savoye and senior Lauren Furbush were up to the challenge. “Lauren and Connor did a beautiful job putting together the day,” remarked Philanthropy class instructor, Bob Yeates. “They worked tirelessly, even providing an orientation session beforehand.”

Senior Casey Lee was excited to visit the Crisis Nursery. And while it was certainly a memorable day for her, it meant everything to one of the boys she met. Seven-year-old Caleb and Casey had a lot in common—especially, a love of baseball. That made for the perfect partnership as upper schoolers and Nursery residents teamed up for a scavenger hunt and picnic at the park. “It was lots of fun,” shared Casey. But that’s not where this story ends. Shortly afterwards, a beautifully decorated envelope arrived for Casey with two drawings from Caleb—one picturing them together and another that included the message, ‘I love you and miss you.’ “I’m keeping these on my desk to look at,” says Casey. “I miss him, too. Receiving the drawings made me feel so good and thankful that I had the chance to spend time with him.”

Yeates says it’s typical to hear praise from the organizations where Principia’s students volunteer and acknowledges this as a clear example of the loving attitudes displayed (and felt). “It is a really unique day,” shared Connor. “As Lauren and I were planning this, we realized that no other school does stuff quite like this. It’s special, and it’s a great chance to give back. For me, it’s the most rewarding day of the school year, and I think it has a special place in everyone’s heart.”