High School Track and Field Athletes Go the Extra Mile to Help a Philly Elementary School

When Upper Dublin High School’s senior track and field athletes wanted to organize a community service project around the holiday’s last year, they put the word out. Although the girls proposed a number of ideas, it was not until their coach Matthew Dwyer had a conversation with a neighbor that the project gained momentum. The neighbor, a teacher at Philip Sheridan Elementary School in Philadelphia, mentioned that her fourth grade students needed classroom supplies and Coach Dwyer through his athletes might be able to help.

When Coach Dwyer suggested to the girls that the team replenish the classroom school supplies as a community service project, the team applauded his idea. Team members made monetary donations and used the money to purchase pens, pencils, notebooks, hats and gloves for one of Sheridan’s fourth grade classes. The project was such a success that the athletes chose to expand their efforts in 2015 to include the entire elementary school, not just one class.

In December 2015, the athletes contributed to Sheridan’s “Peaceful Playground” initiative and replaced equipment that had been stolen.

The girls assembled about a dozen bags of playground equipment. Each bag contained a basketball, soccer ball, football, baseball, badminton set and more.

Sheridan students were very excited to receive the holiday bags.