Paulding Exempted Village Schools
High School, 6 students
Paulding, Ohio
Adviser: Emily Remaklaus
Students across the country are stepping up to solve real challenges in their communities. At the Paulding Exempted Village Schools, a team of students saw a need and took action—demonstrating the power of leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork. Their project, Veterans Memorial, is a testament to what’s possible when young leaders take charge.
The Need:
The student team set a goal to raise $1,000 for the Paulding Veterans Memorial Fund, working to build a new memorial to honor local veterans. At the time, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) was about halfway to its fundraising goal. Motivated by personal connections— the team wanted to ensure the veterans’ service was recognized, remembered, and honored within the community.
The Project:
The students met with the VFW commissioner to better understand the fundraising needs and brainstorm ideas. They launched a series of creative initiatives, including a bake sale during a basketball game, promoted around the school, a Valentine’s Day fundraiser, selling and delivering small bears to classrooms, and offering snow shoveling services in exchange for goodwill donations.
The Results:
Their efforts gained attention in the community, even drawing coverage from local news—which helped boost donations. Not only did the team surpass their $1,000 goal, but two local companies also contributed through matching grant programs, bringing their final total to $3,048.
In recognition of their leadership and impact, Lead4Change awarded a $5,000 grant to support the Paulding Veterans Memorial Fund and help bring the memorial one step closer to completion.
Empowering Students to Lead with Purpose
These students didn’t just have a great idea—they had the leadership skills to bring it to life. That’s exactly what Lead4Change is all about.
Lead4Change is a free leadership curriculum that helps middle and high school students:
✅ Identify real needs in their communities
✅ Develop creative solutions
✅ Take meaningful action
Just like the students behind Veterans Memorial, your students have the potential to create real change—they just need the right tools.
Bring Leadership to Your Classroom
Help your students lead, serve, and make a difference with our free, ready-to-use curriculum.
Every student has the potential to be a great leader who gets big things done. Lead4Change unlocks that potential—empowering them to see a problem, take action, and create lasting impact in their communities.
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