TGCS Community Leadership

TGCS actively encourages our students to participate in special projects and initiatives that contribute to the communities in which we live. Below are some of the contributions our students have made, through their hard work and caring for others. We are very proud of our TGCS students’ community service efforts!

The Last Resort Wildlife Refuge

Our Early Childhood Snack Stand in 2022 raised $500 for The Last Resort Wildlife Refuge in 2022, to help with food and medical supplies for orphaned wild animals rehabilitated at the Refuge. Our Early Childhood campers in Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten learned how to organize, inventory, collect revenue, track expenses, and determine profits for their Snack Stand. After careful research and discussion, our EC campers chose this very special organization because of the amazing work they are doing to help orphaned and wild animals who also need medical attention. Our campers are proud to help this wonderful organization and their mission to help these animals!

A Ukranian Family in Need

Our Early Childhood campers’ 2021 snack stand earned $700 for the Mikhailo family, pictured here at the Ukranian/Polish border, as they fled from the Ukraine for safety. This family left behind everything they owned to find a new place to live. Our Early Childhood campers learned this family made it safely to their new country and are beginning the process of starting a life of everything new: a new country, with new landscapes, new seasonal weather, and a new place to call their home. TGCS wishes the Mikhailo’s the best with their new life!

The Progeria Foundation

Our Early Childhood campers in 2019 researched during the summer many foundations that were dedicated to children who were faced with insurmountable challenges from conditions at birth that they had no control over. After researching almost 15 foundations, they discovered The Progeria Foundation, which is dedicated to children born with a life-threatening disease that causes them to age rapidly. According to their website, Progeria is rare and fatal and without treatment, all children with Progeria will die of heart disease at an average age of 14.5 years. Our Early Childhood campers decided to donated the money they collected from the EC Camp Store and other camp donations to the Progeria Foundation to help with their research of this disease in children. We are grateful to our EC campers for their thoughtfulness and care for others in need.

The Nurturing Place

Students in our 2018 Saturday Workshop Community Connections class chose to support The Nurturing Place in Jersey City for one of their service projects. They collected donations of treats, toys, and supplies for Easter baskets which were given to the children at The Nurturing Place for Easter Sunday surprises. Kudos to our Community Connections students for caring about the children in need at The Nurturing Place - your compassionate efforts are truly inspiring!

Backpacks for Kids

Our Early Childhood (EC) campers who participated in our 2017 Summer Super Stars Camp STEAM sessionran an exciting and busy snack store and collected a significant amount of donations for charity. Our EC campers decided to donate their store proceeds to the United Way’s “Backpacks for Kids” program, to benefit underprivileged students in Paterson, New Jersey. The “Backpacks for Kids” program hopes to provide over 1000 needy students with backpacks filled with essential school supplies. United Way is committed to supplying backpacks and supplies to the entire Freshman class of a local High School, and for two K-4 Primary Grade schools.

Pooled with additional charity dollars from The Gifted Child Society, our EC campers were able to donate $1,000 to this special “Backpacks for Kids” program. With our campers’ donations, this program will be able to provide at least 50 backpacks to students in Paterson! Way to go, EC campers!

The 2016 Summer Super Stars Camp STEAM campers were very busy with several community leadership projects this year. The pre-K & Kindergarten Early Childhood (EC) campers sold snacks via their EC store and collected nearly $300. The Community Leadership Afternoon Academy campers chose two initiatives to support this summer: camp-wide collection and donation of canned goods to the Social Service Association of Ridgewood and monetary collections for donation of live trees to the Northern Highlands Regional High School administration, to replace dead trees that campers found on the grounds at our camp venue.

Hayden’s Heart Memorial Fund

The 2015 Summer Super Stars Camp STEAM Early Childhood (EC)/pre-K/K campers chose to support the Hayden’s Heart Memorial Fund for their community service project. The EC Camp Store raised over $700 that was donated to the fund that helps fight juvenile congenital heart defects and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Our EC campers should be very proud of their accomplishment!

Officer Goodell Memorial Garden

The 2014 Summer Super Stars Camp STEAM Intermediate campers designed and built the Officer Goodell Memorial Garden by at the Waldwick Crescent Elementary School, in honor of Officer Chris Goodell, who lost his life in the line of duty when a tractor-trailer smashed into his police car while he was running radar on Route 17 wreck. Officer Goodell was a local hero and was a veteran officer with the Waldwick Police Department.