Fostering Community Service and Citizenship

GOAL: $6,000,000

Westminster, from its earliest days, has involved students in meaningful forms of community service, believing that such activities promote citizenship and service – values fundamental to a Westminster education.  Today, two-thirds of Westminster High School students participate in off-campus volunteer projects in Atlanta-area schools, community centers, nursing homes and other locations including Habitat for Humanity, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and children, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.

To further encourage community service and citizenship, Tom Glenn ’65 and his family established in 2003 The Wilbur and Hilda Glenn institute of Philanthropy and Service Learning in honor of his parents.  The Glenn Family commitment of $5 million supports Westminster’s many ‘service learning’ initiatives with the Atlanta Public Schools as well as Westminster’s innovative “Philanthropy 101” summer course, in which 15 to 20 seniors become actively engaged as prospective philanthropists reviewing and participating in selected community organizations.  In addition, the High School offers a for-credit, elective course on “The History of Economics and Philanthropy.”  Westminster now seeks to expand these and other community service and learning opportunities for it students.