Royal Oaks School of the Arts Teacher Secures Grant for Life-Changing Philanthropic Project

Posted Date: 01/24/2024

Royal Oaks School of the Arts (ROSA) teacher, Kim Martin, secured a grant to bring a life-changing project to fruition. On January 22, 2024, students at ROSA engaged in an incredible hands-on experience, building functional 3D printed prosthetic hands for individuals in need around the world.

Ms. Martin first learned about Hands of Gratitude during a meeting in August of 2023. She saw an opportunity to incorporate philanthropy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), character strengths from The Positivity Project, and AIG goals into a single project for her students.

With the support and approval of Principal Melody Marsh, Ms. Martin applied for the Bright Ideas Education Grant, which promised a hands-on, engaging, creative, and collaborative experience for ROSA students.

On November 16, 2023, Ms Martin and her 5th grade AIG class received a surprise visit from representatives of Union Power Corporation, presenting them with a $2,000 check, announcing that they had won the Bright Ideas Education Grant.

On January 22, 2024, ROSA's media center buzzed with excitement as third through fifth-grade AIG students, along with parent volunteers and administrators, embarked on an in-house field trip to build 14 prosthetic hands in teams. The kits and instructions, provided by Matt Campana, founder of Hands of Gratitude, guided the students through the process, taking approximately three and a half hours to complete.

Mr. Campana gave a presentation about Hands of Gratitude, which added depth to the students' understanding of the project's significance. Each team personalized the prosthetic hands, writing heartfelt cards, decorating carrying cases, and creating canvases for the recipients, whose names and stories they knew.

These 3D-printed prosthetic hands, crafted with care and compassion, will soon find their way to Guatemala, where they will undoubtedly change the lives of those who receive them. For the teacher and students at ROSA, this project represents not only a remarkable educational experience but also a testament to the power of compassion and the difference one can make in the world.