What began in 2014 as a single service-learning club at Wade Thomas Elementary in San Anselmo has grown into a countywide movement. Today, 2024 Giving Marin grant recipient Children for Change offers school-based programs that empower hundreds of traditional kindergarten through eighth-grade students across nine Marin schools.
Children for Change programs integrate weekly classes andclubs into the school day, built on original, standards-aligned curriculum. Schools select the combination of grade levels, course lengths and program add-ons that work best for them.
Each grade-level theme explores real-world issues — from housing insecurity to ocean pollution to inclusive communities. Local guest speakers bring the topics to life, and students complete hands-on impact projects that create change right in their own neighborhoods.
During the 2024-25 school year, over 600 student-led projects were completed and guest experts from Cedars and Marin Lived Experience Advisory Board spoke with first- and fifth-grade students, helping them connect classroom learning to lived experience.
Children for Change extends its reach beyond the classroom with a robust volunteer program for families. Through a year-round calendar of curated, family-friendly service opportunities, students and their families work side by side supporting over 20 local nonprofits.
One of the most unique aspects of Children for Change is its commitment to engaging students in philanthropy. Each year, the organization’s clubs host fundraisers to support local nonprofits. Students in grades three to five are also nominated by their teachers to attend the annual Student Philanthropy Summit, where they thoughtfully allocate $1,500 to local organizations after a deep dive into the nonprofits’ missions and community impact.
“Our Student Philanthropy Summit is a celebration of what happens when children are given the tools and opportunities to make a real impact,” said Gretchen Ellis, executive director. “For more than a decade, Children for Change students have proven that age is no barrier to creating meaningful change.”
To learn more, visit children4change.org.
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