Project Title:
Above That Club - Youth Leadership and Peer Support Program
Rotary Club:
Four Peaks Rotary Club, Fountain Hills, AZ
Rotary Areas of Focus:
Basic Education and Literacy
Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
Community Economic Development
Project Summary:
Launched in January 2025 by engaged middle school students in Fountain Hills, the Above That Club is a vibrant, student-led initiative focused on empowering youth to make healthy choices, build leadership skills, and promote substance-free living through peer support. In just a few months, members have presented the club's mission at community events and gained support from local leaders, educators, and families.
As a key component of the Fountain Hills Protect Our Youth Coalition, this program offers age-appropriate leadership development and prevention education. It helps students strengthen their voices and make a lasting impact on the school culture, their peers, and the broader community.
Project Objectives:
Empower youth with leadership skills, public speaking experience, and service-based values
Mentor 5th graders through peer-led education and early prevention engagement
Expand the program into Fountain Hills High School with student-led continuity
Host events and campaigns promoting healthy choices and youth wellness
Introduce Rotary's mission and values to inspire lifelong service and global understanding
Rotary Connection - Growing Future Rotarians:
The Above That Club is a powerful platform for developing future Rotarians, and we intend to introduce participants to the greater Rotary family, including Interact for high school students and Rotaract for young adults. Students involved in Above That will be invited to:
Attend select Rotary meetings to observe leadership in action
Learn about Rotary's global mission, values, and service areas
Participate in joint Interact-Rotary service projects in the community
Develop public speaking skills by presenting to Rotary and Interact groups
Connect with Rotaract members for mentorship, networking, and inspiration
This alignment builds a pipeline of engaged, service-minded youth who understand the importance of "Service Above Self" and Rotary's global impact on issues such as literacy, clean water, disease prevention, and peacebuilding.
The goal is to nurture these young leaders into lifelong contributors to the mission of Rotary-locally in Fountain Hills and globally through Rotary International.
Sustainability Plan:
Annual student leadership recruitment and training
Peer mentoring to 5th graders as an annual program
Partnership with high school student government to establish Above That Liaisons
Integration with Interact and Four Peaks Rotary service projects
Presentations to incoming students and ongoing community awareness efforts
Foster deeper engagement with Rotary family to build lifelong service habits
Conclusion:
The Above That Club is a student-led movement that uplifts, educates, and empowers. Rooted in Rotary's mission, this initiative develops not only strong leaders today-but also future Rotarians, Interactors, and Rotaractors who will lead with purpose and integrity for years to come.
With the support of the Four Peaks Rotary Club and District resources, the Above That Club will continue to thrive and serve as a shining example of youth leadership, community impact, and the enduring spirit of Rotary.
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