Henry Sibley High School’s GOFA initiative selected for youth philanthropy award

Henry Sibley High School students were recognized for their commitment to philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Minnesota Chapter. The students were selected to receive the AFP's 2013 Outstanding Youth Award for the Sibley Student Council's annual fundraising initiative, Give Once for All (GOFA). 

The award for GOFA was among other Philanthropy Awards presented at AFP's National Philanthropy Day event on Nov. 22 in Minneapolis. Sibley 2013 graduate Nicole Engel attended the event, along with Sibley Student Council advisors Sue Soine and Alison Footh.

"We are so proud Sibley students are being recognized for their dedication to serving their community through GOFA," Footh said. "GOFA is an amazing tradition at Sibley that helps high school students grow, give and become leaders in the community. For many of us, it's the highlight of our year."

Each February, GOFA week is organized by the Sibley Student Council. The students plan and manage fun activities and service events that raise money through the participation of other students, school staff and community members. In 2013, students spent time packing 560 boxes of food (pictured above) for ImpactLives, equaling about 116,000 meals — more than $21,500 worth of food. In total, GOFA raised more than $30,000 to benefit ImpactLives and I.EM.PHIT. 

Henry Sibley students have hosted GOFA week for more than 50 years. Throughout the course of GOFA's history, more than $600,000 has been raised. Organizations must apply to receive funds, and students evaluate each application and vote to choose recipients. In previous years, GOFA student organizers sent funds to Dakota Woodlands, Neighbors, Inc., Can Do Canines, Special Olympics of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation - Saltzman Laboratory, and many more. 

GOFA was nominated to receive the AFP award by Nancy Sabin, former executive director of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, and a letter of support for GOFA's nomination was written by Patty Wetterling. The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center was one of the organizations chosen by students to receive GOFA funds in 2005.

In her nomination letter, Sabin wrote, "My heartfelt congratulations go out to this inspirational group of high schoolers for the spirit, service and tenacity they've shown."

As part of GOFA's award, the AFP Minnesota Chapter coordinated and sponsored a video about GOFA week. The video features interviews with Sibley students, Footh, Sabin and Wetterling and can be viewed online.