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Success Stories

S.A.V.E. Wins 3 National Awards (A Learn and Serve America Grantee)

MarchingS.A.V.E. In Action - 2005-06
  • Cleaned up Knotty Oak Cemetery & re-flagged veterans’ graves
  • Created anti-vandalism signs, bookmarks & bumper stickers for grades K-12 and visited schools
  • Put in $6000 worth of donated landscaping to beautify our school
  • Created Power Point presentation to educate students and communities about vandalism
  • Taught classes at school’s annual Health Fair about relationship of vandalism and other abuses, etc. Presented at New England KIDS Service Learning Conference in Maine – Spring ‘06
  • Met with R.I. Attorney General Patrick Lynch to discuss vandalism and how it hurts kids and communities – June ‘06
  • Received $5000 from Wal-Mart to create community awareness about vandalism – Oct. ’06
S.A.V.E. in Action – 2006-2007
  • Presented workshop at national YCWA Conference in Denver, CO. (March ‘07
  • Presented at KIDS Student Summit; University of Southern Maine (March ’07
  • Repaired and painted graffiti in Coventry Girls softball dugouts.
  • Planted new trees and gardens at Knotty Oak MS
  • Starting team Adopt-a-Spot program at KOMS to create student ownership
  • Starting “quick response team” to repair vandalism when it happens
  • Implementing Youth Crime Watch program at KOMS
  • Presented S.A.V.E. program to U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
S.A.V.E. in Action – 2007- 2008
  • Over 120 members, Grades 6, 7, 8
  • Expanded S.A.V.E. to Coventry High School – Core of 15 students with 60+ members
  • Sixteen MS and HS members presented at national YCWA Conference, Miami FL (March ’08
  • Re-landscaped front of school
  • Created comprehensive anti-bullying program including: “Bully-Safe Houses” rooms where any student being bullied can go to before, during or after school, bully/crime reporting boxes and confidential response forms, 24/7 phone #, text messaging number to Coventry Police, and our S.A.V.E. website Response Form at www.stopvandalism.net
  • Mr. Blanchette was a 2008 national finalist for National Youth Leadership Council’s State Farm Youth Leadership for Service Learning Excellence award
  • Adopted & cleaned (2) RI historic cemeteries
  • Created thematic photo walls to create student ownership
  • Presented at RI Attorney General’s “Third Eye”/Youth Crime Watch training conferences (Fall 2007, Spring 2008
  • S.A.V.E. members organized a weekend cleanup at the Impossible Dream’s playground, which had been vandalized. This playground was specifically designed to be accessible to children with disabilities and serious illnesses, such as cancer
  • Raised money for UNICEF
  • Marched in Coventry Memorial Day Parade
  • Student members presented anti-vandalism/bullying programs at each of Coventry’s 6 elementary schools.
WON 3 NATIONAL 2008 Youth Crime Watch of America awards
  • Middle School of the Year
  • Advisor of the Year – Mr. Blanchette
  • Website of the Year
  • Students in Coventry High Carpentry class used grant money to purchase materials to construct sturdy replacement mailboxes & posts; then, working with Coventry Police and Human Services, they replaced damaged mailboxes for Seniors at NO Charge.
Sector: 

Contact Information

Name: 
Charles Blanchette
Email: 
bottleguy@cox.net
Institution/Organization: 
Students Against Vandalism Everywhere (S.A.V.E.), Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School
Web Site: 
http://www.stopvandalism.net