Rachel’s Challenge Coming to Levi Fry Intermediate

TEXAS CITY, Texas (January 16, 2013) – Students, teachers and parents from local schools have taken part in Rachel’s Challenge over the past two years. The educational program has gained national notoriety – as well as praise from educators and parents alike – on the strength of its message: kindness, compassion and starting positive chain reactions. The program is devoted to prevent violence and bullying by engaging youth and adults to spread acts of kindness and compassion. AMOCO Federal Credit Union is proud to sponsor Rachel’s Challenge for Galveston County Schools.

To date, over 9,300 students have taken part in the program in Galveston County! The Rachel’s Challenge program includes student/teacher assemblies held on campus, followed by a community-wide evening event open to all students, parents, and businesses in the community. Rachel’s Story and Rachel’s Impact are the two middle-school programs. Rachel’s Story introduces younger middle school students to Rachel Scott and her challenge to deliberately reach out to others with kindness. The Columbine tragedy is introduced at an intensity level appropriate for 5^th and 6^th graders.  Both the Rachel’s Story and Rachel’s Impact program show the profound positive impact students can have on those around them by simply paying attention to the little things they do and say every day. Rachel’s Impact is the middle school version of the inspiring story of Rachel Scott whose example of kindness and acceptance was brought to light when she became the first victim in the Columbine High School tragedy. Conveyed through stories from Rachel’s life and writings, Rachel’s Impact shows the positive impact on those around us. Rachel’s Impact demonstrates to the listener the power of deliberately reaching out in word and action to others to start what Rachel called a “chain reaction of kindness and compassion”.

After the assemblies, a group of students are chosen to initiate a "Friends of Rachel" (FOR Club) for their particular school. This training session provides instruction on how to start the FOR Club and plan initial activities that will sustain the impact of the assembly. While every student is encouraged to join the FOR Club, this particular group of students is responsible for carrying on the program message throughout their school with the unified goal to make positive changes. A student from Clear View Education Center said, “I just want to thank Rachel’s Challenge for passing this message on to us. This message, along with our speaker, Dave, gave me the will today to keep on living. Until today, I thought no one cared or even would notice if I decided to kill myself. After the challenge, I can see that people truly do care, even if they don't know me. I accept this challenge, and I hope to devote my life to this cause.”

If you would like to help AMOCO extend this program school district by school district throughout all K-12 schools in Galveston County, please consider sponsoring a school near you or making a monetary contribution to the Rachel’s Challenge Galveston Community Activation Fund. To donate, please visit the Galveston County Activation Fund website at http://rachelschallenge.3dcartstores.com/CAF-Donation--Galveston-TX_p_98.html. News Media Representatives are welcome to attend the Rachel’s Challenge program at Levi Fry Intermediate located in Texas City on Friday, January 18, 2013. If interested, contact the school directly for media access.