King Cares
The King Cares service program reinforces the school’s belief that community engagement is central to educational excellence.
This program combines service learning with community engagement to help students achieve an understanding of their skills, explore areas of interest, build empathy, and engage with multiple perspectives. Through the process, they discover how they can use their skills and interests to strengthen our community through a partnership among students, families, faculty, staff, and partner organizations. As the students participate, they problem solve and further develop leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, as well as a greater understanding of who they are, our shared humanity, and their role in the community.
King Cares prepare students to positively impact an interconnected society through civic and social engagement.
The King Cares Service program follows King School’s belief that community engagement is central to educational excellence into action. This program combines service learning — a curriculum-based teaching and learning strategy involving research, action, and reflection — with community engagement opportunities.
The program’s interdisciplinary nature helps students achieve a deeper understanding of their skills, explore further areas of interest, build empathy, and engage with multiple perspectives. Through the process, students discover how they can use their skills and interests to strengthen our community through a reciprocal learning partnership among students, families, faculty, staff, and partner organizations.
As students participate in meaningful community engagement opportunities, they develop leadership, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. They also cultivate a greater understanding of who they are, of our shared humanity, and of their role in the community. The King Cares experience prepares them for lifelong civic and social responsibility in an interconnected society where they can make an impact.
Examples of Programs
The King Cares Service Learning program is incorporated throughout the entire school community of students, teachers, staff, and families. Often working in partnership with community organizations, the programming occurs in several iterations in and out of the classroom, depending on the project. Initiatives, which are infused into the students’ school days, are sometimes school wide and at other times led by a class, grade, advisory, division, club, or department.
King Cares also offers opportunities for students to participate in activities after school on and off campus in all divisions and be part of youth committees with partner organizations. The program also facilitates travel opportunities in collaboration with the Global Education program, Athletics, and Performing Arts. Ultimately, if a student wants to make community engagement an ongoing part of their King objectives, this program makes it possible.
King Cares Partnerships
- American Red Cross
- Bennett Cancer Center/Stamford Hospital
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Bennett Cancer Center/Stamford Hospital
- Boys and Girls Club
- Building One Community
- Children of Fallen Patriots
- The Children’s Learning Centers
- El Sistema
- Harlem Lacrosse
- India Cultural Center
- Inspirica
- Jack and Jill of America
- Kids in Crisis
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Long Ridge Post-Acute Care Center
- Midnight Run
- New Covenant House
- North Rampart Community Center- NOLA
- Norwalk Grassroots tennis
- The Orphaned Starfish Foundation
- Person-to Person
- Project Music
- SoundWaters
- SPCA
- Stamford Nature Center and Arboretum
- Stamford PEACE- Beyond Limits Tutoring
Calendar
King Cares 5K 2024
King student-athletes from the fall athletic teams will host the 12th annual King Cares 5K fun walk/run benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, as well as the Orphaned Starfish Foundation. Your contribution or participation in the event will not only go to help fund programs but also helps King students engage in a reciprocal learning experience through community outreach, a key component to the King mission statement. Donations of all sizes are accepted.
Please note: Registration for participants aged 15 and older is $30 per person. Registration for children aged 6-14 is $10 per person. Children 5 and under are free.
9:15 a.m. Registration at Simon House Lawn
10:00 a.m. Race Starts
For more information about the King Cares Service Program, please contact Karen Raidt, Director of the King Cares Service Program & Student Services, at kraidt@kingschoolct.org.
King Cares in Action
Despite the drizzle, King School’s community united on Sunday, September 29, for the 12th Annual King Cares 5K, benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford and the Orphaned Starfish Foundation. Students, families, and faculty participated in the event, with Kiran Rao ’25 reflecting on the global reach of their efforts through the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, which empowers vulnerable youth through technology and education. Carla Osorio, representing the foundation, expressed deep appreciation for King’s ongoing support, while Taylor Ansel ’25 thanked the donors and sponsors for their significant impact on youth both locally and globally.
Students in King School clubs have remained connected this summer through projects supporting their communities. Members of the Health and Wellness Club and JFS Club recently ran activity stations at local events supporting the Bennett Cancer Center and Jewish Family Services. Meanwhile, The Frog Project focused on assembling new vivariums for their growing population of endangered red-banded dart frogs and creating a large 90-gallon vivarium for Jenkinson's Aquarium to help educate the public on the species.
This year’s King Cares Family Service Day, held on Sunday, April 28, saw a record turnout with over 300 students, faculty, staff, families, and members of more than 15 partner organizations descending upon the campus, making this year's event the biggest one yet. The annual event highlighted King School's commitment to service and community partnerships, showcasing a collective dedication to making a positive impact locally and beyond.
Since 2021, King students have gathered for Give Back Tuesdays to work with community partners on various King Cares Projects. The students select an area of interest and volunteer to help the King community with its philanthropic endeavors. This week was particularly special as students gathered to work with a company formed by four King siblings to package cookies for The Villa at Stamford, a rehabilitation center and King partner organization.
For over a decade, King School's commitment to community service during the Thanksgiving season has reflected its dedication to fostering a sense of social responsibility among its students and maintaining meaningful community partnerships. This year, the school collected 4,227 pounds of food for the Person-to-Person Food Drive and assembled 40 Thanksgiving baskets for Building One Community’s Thanksgiving Basket Drive. Both initiatives are planned, organized, and supported with the help of the entire school community.
The 11th annual King Cares 5K capped off a full weekend of Homecoming activities and events on Sunday, October 22. Community members and race volunteers cheered for over 100 runners who registered for this year’s race to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford and the Orphaned Starfish Foundation.
Last week’s King of Spring celebration culminated with a weekend that drew the community out in droves bringing Athletics, King Cares, and Performing Arts together to celebrate the school’s spirit. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families cheered on sports teams Saturday, April 22. They returned the following day to volunteer at King’s Family Day of Service and jam to live music at the King Music Festival in support of Project Music.
King School’s Grade 7 students fanned out across Stamford and into Darien Wednesday, February 8, visiting five King Cares community partner locations for a day of service learning. The trips emphasized the importance of community engagement and offered students a chance to identify an area or organization of interest. The excursions served as a foundation for continued work as students grow through the Middle School and Upper School.
King School is partnering with the American School of Warsaw to support Ukrainian children who have fled their country due to the Russian invasion and sought refuge in Poland. This week, King is collecting school supplies such as crayons, markers, pencil cases, notebooks, pens, and pencils to send to Ukrainian children who are attending the school in Warsaw.