Father McGivney Students Raise $9,000 For Local Christmas Gifts
The National Honor Society leads the Change a Child’s Christmas project, donating gifts to 16 families in need in the Glen Carbon community.
GLEN CARBON — Students at Father McGivney Catholic High School are spreading holiday cheer by providing Christmas gifts for local families in need through the schoolwide “Change a Child’s Christmas” project.
Led by McGivney’s Chapter of the National Honor Society, the initiative partnered with Brightpoint, a community organization in Granite City, Illinois. Each of the school’s 16 Houses sponsored a local family, raising a total of $9,000 to purchase gifts and necessities tailored to each family’s needs. The donations supported 16 families whose Christmas needs might otherwise have gone unmet.
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Students organized fundraising efforts, pooled donations, and purchased gifts based on wish lists provided by Brightpoint, which kept family names anonymous. According to Erin Kretzer, project co-chair, the effort fostered empathy and teamwork among participants. “Being able to see the abundance of gifts we were able to give back warmed my heart and all those around me,” Kretzer said. “These families are struggling in different ways, and these gifts provide a sense of hope and serve as support for vulnerable families, helping to ease their financial burden.”
After delivering the gifts to Brightpoint, McGivney representatives learned that the organization had recently lost some community assistance, leaving additional families in need. In response, the National Honor Society’s executive board donated an extra $1,000—raised through used uniform sales—to help Brightpoint support those families and ensure more children have a joyful Christmas morning.
“As a Christian, it’s important to give back to our community and ensure everyone can experience holiday joy,” Kretzer added.
Service is a central mission of the McGivney National Honor Society. In addition to “Change a Child’s Christmas,” students lead various service projects including peer tutoring, Cansgiving, biannual community blood drives, and monthly baked goods donations for Badges of Honor. This year, they also launched the “Pet Pantry Project,” which donates blankets and homemade pet treats to area shelters.
Bobbie Madura, NHS advisor, emphasized the leadership role students take in these efforts. “These students are the leaders of our school. They are looking at service through a different lens and seeing what they can do to make an impact in our larger community,” Madura said. NHS members complete an additional 20 hours of service annually beyond the school’s requirements, with students developing ideas, forming committees, and organizing projects.
Father McGivney Catholic High School, located in Glen Carbon, Illinois, is a coeducational Catholic college preparatory school that opened in 2012. It aims to form students in faith, service, and leadership while providing an exceptional academic experience. The school’s enrollment has grown from 19 students at its founding to 340 students this school year.
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