I'm a Star Foundation helps homeless students

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Students in the I'm A Star Foundation presented Dr. Nikolai Vitti, the Duval County superintendent of schools, a check to help homeless students Monday night.

The students raised $37,000 this year and gave another $10,000 in scholarship money to the help homeless students.

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Betty Burney, the founder of the I'm A Star Foundation, said, "These young people are trying to be leaders in their respective schools and communities and it makes me feel so great that they are servant leaders."

Tabitha Cobb is a student in the foundation and said, "In February of 2013, we were at an I'm a Star meeting and Ms. Burney showed us a video of a girl and her brother that were homeless and they were living in their car and still were going to school, and doing well in school, and she explained to us that there were, at the time, 1,600 registered homeless students in Duval County."

The students started an initiative called Jacksonville H.E.L.P.S, standing for Homeless Students Empower through Leadership, Personal Commitment and service.

"I just feel like it is our duty as citizens to help those that are in need and I feel like if they can do it, why can't we help them," Cobb said.

Cobb said this is just the beginning for the I'm A Star Foundation.

"You definitely will hear more about I'm A Star, more about what we're doing in the community and trying to help," Cobb said.

In two years, the foundation's students have donated $57,000 and awarded 14 scholarships to Duval County Public Schools.
 


About the Author:

Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016.