Gateway students participate in 1 Million Book Giveaway

Tribune-Review | Tuesday, November 21, 2023 7:01 p.m.

Courtesy of Gateway School District

Chick-fil-A Leader Academy student Reilly Griffith reads to students at Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary School on Nov. 13.

Gateway High School students joined more than 30,000 high school students nationwide in an effort to give 1 million books to underserved youth in their local communities as part of Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national high school leadership program.

Students took part in a Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Kickoff Experience featuring the book giveaway service project at the high school. The 1 million books are sponsored by Chick-fil-A Inc., and students in the Gateway Chick-fil-A Leader Academy gave away hundreds of books to second-grade students in the school district.

On Nov. 13, the students delivered the books to Evergreen and Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. elementary schools. Each of the recipients got a bag of five books and a handwritten note from a high school student providing encouragement. The high school students enjoyed reading some of the books to the kids and sharing basic leadership principles with them.

The Gateway High School Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is sponsored locally by Brian Wenger of Chick-Fil-A Miracle Mile, Monroeville, and is advised by teachers Marci Klinger, Dawn Nicolazzo and Regan Reeder.

Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is a national high school leadership program focused on impact through action. The seven-month program empowers high school students to put leadership principles into practice through student-led community service projects that culminate in a year-end impact project.

Learn more at chickfilaleaderacademy.com.