Published in The InvestiGator (Green Valley High School Newspaper)

Article from The InvestiGator: Volume XX, Issue II, Green Valley High School, November 2010

*The following article was published on the front page of The InvestiGator (Green Valley High School's Newspaper.)

“Service club takes a C.H.A.N.C.E.” By Steven Linakis

Creating hope, answering needs, changing everything. Take the first letter in each word to form C.H.A.N.C.E., a newly created club at Green Valley High School dedicated to finding ways to help others.

C.H.A.N.C.E. works much like the Career Center, finding opportunities and posting them for school awareness. C.H.A.N.C.E. members are not content with just finding ways to help, they also plan to actively participate in volunteer activities. Any money from fundraisers will be equally distributed between four major organizations; UNICEF, The Hands and Feet Organization (religious group that helps orphans), The National Parkinsons Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.

Junior Ashley Martinez is the creator and president of C.H.A.N.C.E. club.

“I got inspiration to create C.H.A.N.C.E. at a volunteer work camp over the summer,” Martinez said. “A lot of people don’t know how to help those less fortunate; I wanted to help others find ways to do that.”

According to Martinez the process of creating a club is tedious business.

“I first had to find the secretary of activities, official papers, make a club constitution, find twenty people to join, and find an advisor to supervise and sponsor us. Even with a teacher allowing us a room, I had to fill out more papers to get permission to use this room for my club meetings. All money collected from C.H.A.N.C.E. would be collected on a bank card. And last, each month I have to write out a summary and give it to the office,” said Martinez.

English teacher Rosemary Smith was the chosen supervisor for C.H.A.N.C.E. As supervisor, Smith will have to follow C.H.A.N.C.E. during all of their outside club activities and be in charge of the club meetings.

“I’ve known Ashley for quite some time. I was very impressed when I heard she ran a marathon with her grandfather, so naturally I decided to help,” Smith said.

The school is already home to many volunteer organizations, but C.H.A.N.C.E. has the ability for more freedom.

“Since C.H.A.N.C.E. is a fresh organization, there are no rules or regulations. They have much more freedom to help in whatever way they want,” Smith said.

C.H.A.N.C.E. started off by setting basic authoritative guidelines, asking for volunteer suggestions from fellow club members, passing out snacks, basic club things. C.H.A.N.C.E. leaders already established a few activities, such as tulip selling in April and the spreading of stickers to spread the word. Currently C.H.A.N.C.E. has around 30 club members, and are accepting new participants.

Published: November 2010 in the InvestiGator