The 20 board members of the Violets’ Giving Circle (VGC) took a new approach to the assembly and presented testimonials of their experience and the significance of their work before the Marlborough community on Monday, Jan. 30.
They decided to take this storytelling approach to highlight the personal nature of VGC’s relationship with its beneficiaries.The assembly featured seniors’ stories about their experiences and motivations in the Violet’s Giving Circle and its significance. The juniors will be telling stories about different girls and women that they have donated to.
Violets’ Giving Circle is the only entirely high school student-run non-profit organization in the country. Led by Co-Chairs Allegra ’17 and Alexa ’17, Vice-Chair Molly ’17, Secretary Car ’17 and Treasurer Alli ’17, the VGC comprises of juniors and seniors.
VCG advocates for underprivileged girls and women in Los Angeles by working with various existing charities to fund educational opportunities. This year VCG aims to raise 40,000 dollars to donate to charities it chooses to sponsor.
“We have a biennial fashion show. With the fashion show, we usually raise about $40,000, which we then split up next year between four different organizations,” Alexa ’17 said.
VGC has enabled its members to witness firsthand the positive impact they can have in the world through activities such as providing a route to college for underprivileged girls or helping sustain powerful forces for change in the community. Allegra ’17 said that it is the tangible evidence of the change they are making that motivated her to continue her philanthropy.
“For some [organizations] 10,000 dollars is a ridiculous amount of money…It’s a really cool experience to see our work as eleventh and twelfth graders can make such a difference and make such a difference in other people’s lives,” Allegra ’17 said.
The VGC chooses their four charities after a thorough research process that includes site visits and interviews. Violets’ Giving Circle advisor Amanda Lovrien said that seeing the pride on the girls’ faces when they make their decisions is the most rewarding aspect of the VGC.
“I have seen how rewarding it is for all of them after they brainstorm, debate and reach a decision. It can be hard to have 20 minds agree and they have done it rather beautifully,” Lovrien said.
