Grace Foundation Makes an Impact with Operation Positive Role Model

Congratulations to Kara Biroldi, Jeffrey Naft, Colin Sickles, this year’s winner of $1,000 scholarships from The Grace Foundation in recognition for their character, integrity and kindness to others.  Westchester County Supervisor, Andy Spano, was on hand to commend the positive role models saying “you are the future of this great world we live in.”

The Grace Foundation has supported Operation Project Role Model at Mildred E. Strang Middle School in Yorktown for over 5 years. Ninety Seven students from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades were honored. Each student received a certificate of honor and a small gift.

All the winners are chosen through a rigorous nomination process. Beginning with peer support, teachers and staff then augment recommendations. Each student nomination is evaluated for their character, charity, for their positive behavior and for having committing random acts of kindness throughout the year. 

Operation Project Role Model is a continuous school year program that is made up of three parts:  1)Positive Behavior: To Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful 2) Bully Prevention Committee that addresses anti bullying programs and the 3) VIP club that meets weekly to plan positive activities that encourage positive behavior. The three parts help shape and build kindness and an appreciation of being positive.

The Grace Foundation has been supporting Operation Positive Role Model for over seven years and has seen the program flourish. The F. Cecil Grace Foundation’s generous support has allowed the school to build various positive role model programs. This year’s accomplishments included guest speaker Scott Chesney and a middle school video titled:  “I’ll be Me.” The musical score and production created by the MESMS.