Hopeful Horizons: Four local teens mobilized their school to support single parents in their community

Assumption High School, 4 Students
Louisville, KY
Advisor: Mary Ann Steutermann

Students across the country are stepping up to solve real challenges in their communities. At Assumption High School, a team of students saw a need and took action—demonstrating the power of compassion, community, and service. Their project, Hopeful Horizons, is a testament to what’s possible when young leaders take charge.

The Need

This student team saw the urgent struggles faced by single parents in their community and wanted to make a difference. Their goal was to collect 150 essential toiletry items for both men and women, to be donated to SPARC Hope—a nonprofit dedicated to helping single parents meet their daily needs with dignity and confidence.

The Project

To maximize impact, the students created a variety of promotional materials, including social media posts, flyers, and personalized letters to local businesses. They also emailed students and families, and reached out to school sports teams to encourage participation. Collection boxes were placed in high-traffic areas around the school to make giving easy and accessible.

The Result

The team’s efforts paid off—they collected over 1,200 items, far surpassing their original goal, and raised $600 for SPARC Hope.

Impressed by their initiative, Lead4Change awarded an $8,000 grant to SPARC Hope. The funds will go directly toward rent and utility assistance, as well as grocery and gas cards, providing vital support to single-parent families navigating difficult circumstances.

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 Hopeful Horizons, 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.

Already using Lead4Change? We’d love to hear your stories of impact. Send us an email, or find us on social.