The Summit Federal Credit Union and St. Joseph’s Villa Help Kids in Crisis Bloom


On the morning of Tuesday, March 28, employees of The Summit Federal Credit Union rolled up their sleeves and began a two-part project that helped St. Joseph’s Villa kids see first-hand how community well-being can blossom from the seeds of hard work, good-will, and generosity.

That day, from 8:40 to 10:40 a.m., several Summit employees worked side-by-side with Villa students to carefully plant more than 1,000 individual plants inside the St. Joseph’s Villa Campus School Greenhouse. All of the project materials were provided by a donation from The Summit. In the coming weeks, Villa students will tend to the growing plants and study their growth as part of their school science curriculum. When they are full-grown, the students will donate the plants to several community groups and organizations in need.

It’s all part of a project designed to teach kids that positive actions bring positive results, and that each young person has an important role to play in the growth in the community.

“We are so pleased to be able to give Villa kids a chance to have this kind of positive experience,” said The Summit Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Laurie Baker. “Supporting the St. Joseph’s Villa horticultural program is a perfect way for us to demonstrate how teamwork and positive relationships bring about wonderful results. We are also very excited to be part of a project that strengthens and invests in
kids, which is a long-term investment in the future of our community.”

The St. Joseph’s Villa horticulture program began more than 10 years ago when Villa teacher Karin Cardon encouraged a group of students to tend a small garden in the courtyard of the Campus School as a way to learn science concepts and gain a sense of pride and responsibility. Over the years, the popular program quickly took root, becoming a key part of the school’s curriculum, as well as an excellent way for kids to gain employability skills like planning, teamwork, and communication. In 2004, with the help of community donations, a greenhouse was built, which enables kids to take part in the program year-round.

However, a project of this proportion would be impossible to undertake without outside support from an organization like The Summit.

“The Summit has generously given us the means to provide a very significant learning experience for our kids here,” said Cardon. “The process of planting, nurturing and preparing to donate the plants, helps them build some practical, real-world social and vocational skills that will benefit their future success in the community. They will be able to see how their time, effort, teamwork and responsibility will help and bring happiness to others. It helps them feel connected to the community. This is a fantastic learning tool for them.”

Most Villa kids have not had the opportunity for experiences like this due to the stressful situations they have faced early on. All Villa youth have serious emotional and behavioral issues resulting from a variety of factors, including abuse and neglect, poverty, loss of a loved one, or family histories of mental illness or substance abuse. Most Villa students have struggled significantly in school as a result, and are behind at least one grade level.

The Summit Federal Credit Union
Toll Free: 1.800.836.7328
Member Services and Information: 585.453.7030
www.summitfcu.org

St. Joseph’s Villa
3300 Dewey Avenue
Rochester, NY 14616
585.865.1550
www.stjosephsvilla.org