Trailblazing Change, One Act at a Time

Community Outreach

The foundation of Next Generation School rests upon the belief that our students - both individually and collectively - possess the ability to have a profound impact on the world around them.

We are, therefore, committed to providing and developing opportunities for younger students to positively impact our school community and for our older students to reach out in service to our broader local, national, and global communities.

Through self-initiated projects and school-sponsored initiatives and partnerships, children experience community engagement as an integral part of the learning process, gradually deepening their understanding of our vastly interconnected world.

A group of children performing with musical instruments in a gymnasium, with an audience of children standing behind them.
Girls in purple shirts selling cookies at a fundraiser table, with an adult woman in a denim jacket talking to them. There are cookies on the table and a sign with a superman logo.
Two school children, a girl and a boy, sit at a table in a classroom, holding up their coloring pages and smiling at the camera. The girl has brown hair and wears a plaid shirt, while the boy has short brown hair and wears a dark T-shirt. In the background, other children are engaged in activities at their tables.

  • Since April 2009, Next Generation School has proudly partnered with Carle Foundation Hospital to support children in the Pediatric Unit through acts of service, creativity, and kindness. What began as a student-curated art exhibit in the Family Waiting and Activity Area has grown into a deeply rooted outreach initiative, reflecting our school’s mission to foster empathy and community connection in every student.

    Through this ongoing partnership, Carle Pediatrics shares current patient needs with our school—ranging from comforting pillowcases and cheerful décor to art supplies and activity kits that bring moments of joy during hospital stays. Our students, staff, and families respond through donation drives, special fundraising efforts, and hands-on service projects that emphasize compassion and care.

    This long-standing collaboration with Carle not only provides tangible support to pediatric patients, but also instills in our students a lasting understanding of their ability to positively impact the world around them.

  • Each September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Next Generation School community comes together for our annual Go Gold Game, a powerful tradition that honors the memory of our beloved former student, Danny Nardi. Danny courageously battled Neuroblastoma for nearly five years, leaving a lasting legacy of strength and resilience. Though he passed away in 2013, his spirit continues to inspire us to raise awareness and support for childhood cancer research.

    The Go Gold initiative features school-wide participation, including special themed shirts designed by Danny’s classmates worn on Fridays in September and a girls basketball game dedicated to raising funds for the cause. Proceeds from shirt sales, admission, and concessions are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, keeping Danny’s memory alive while making a difference in the lives of other children still fighting. Through this event, our students learn the power of compassion, remembrance, and action.

  • Throughout the school year, Next Generation School students actively participate in a variety of donation drives that reflect our commitment to service, empathy, and global citizenship. Whether collecting gently used shoes for local families, donating new stuffed animals to bring comfort to children in need, or stocking shelves for organizations like Feeding Our Kids, the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, and Toys for Tots, our students learn the value of giving back in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.

    These efforts are not only about the items we collect—they’re about cultivating a spirit of kindness, raising awareness, and empowering students to be changemakers in their communities and beyond.

  • A true, fund-raising classic, the Bake Sale delights taste-buds each year.  As any student will tell you, the sweet treat is a highlight of the day, but the true happiness comes from what the sale of these little morsels provides. Every dollar of the proceeds helps to fund much needed supplies for our partnership with Carle Pediatrics. 

  • We encourage students to pursue individual passions, entrepreneurial efforts, and non-profit causes at any time throughout the course of the year. Through independent student projects we give students a platform to achieve their goals and individual interests in global citizenship.

Group of children and teenagers smiling behind a table filled with art supplies and school supplies, in a classroom setting.
Six children sitting and standing on a bench, holding a large check for $3500, with an adult man standing behind them giving a thumbs-up. The children are smiling and appear happy, in a room with photos on a shelf and a staircase in the background.
Two children sitting in colorful chairs against a decorative background. The boy on the left is smiling while holding a stuffed animal, a leopard. The girl on the right is smiling with a book in her lap.