EFFINGHAM COUNTY welcomes NATIONAL PROGRAM RACHAEL'S CHALLENGE

Effingham High School will host one of the most moving community events, free and open to the public, on November 20 at 6:30 PM.
Area students Taylor Kollmann, Paige Logan, and Taylor Hartke of Effingham County 4H Youth Ambassadors along with Effingham County School Resource Officer Jeff Suckow wrote a grant to fund the cost of the event. Michell Loy, assisted the youth with the grant and coordination with the program to bring it here. Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Effingham County awarded the grant.

Each day 160,000 students do not go to school because they are bullied, teased and harassed. By turning the story of a tragic death at Columbine High School into a mission for change, Rachel's Challenge is helping create safer learning environments and making a worldwide impact.

Rachel's Challenge is a student empowerment program that equips students & adults to combat bullying and allay feelings of isolation and despair by creating a culture of kindness & compassion.

The programs are based on the writings and life of 17 year-old Rachel Scott who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Rachel left a legacy of reaching out to those who were different, who were picked on by others, or who were new at her school.

Shortly before her death she wrote "I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go."

Rachel's Challenge was started by her dad and step mom, Darrell and Sandy Scott. They realized the writings and drawings Rachel left not only had an impact on her friends and classmates, but with students around the world.

The Scott family knew Rachel's story and passion had to be told to inspire others to make their world a better place. more than 18 million people have been touched by Rachel Scott's message. Each year over 2 million more people are added to that total. The results are outstanding, 78% more students indicated they would intervene in a bullying incident. Recently Rachel's Challenge received more than 450 emails from students who indicated they changed their mind about taking their own lives after hearing Rachel's Challenge.
For more information visit: www.rachelschallenge.org

Rachel's Challenge is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious organization based in Littleton, Colorado.

We'd appreciate your help getting the word out about this amazing national program! If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to give us a call @ 217-857-6808.


Thank you,

Korrie Hartke

The Rachel's Challenge Committee
Paige Logan, Taylor Kollman, Taylor Hartke, Officer Jeff Suckow,
Pattie Logan, Jody Kollman, Korrie Hartke, & Michelle Loy