What is the Starfish Project for Children?


The primary work of the Starfish Project for Children ("SPFC") is motivating school aged children, kindergarten through twelfth grade, to engage in community service through competing for age appropriate awards and community recognition and providing connection to an organized effort. The Starfish Project for Children exists so that children can discover the internal satisfaction that engaging in community service can bring them. We believe that commitment to community service is “caught not taught.” The Starfish Project experience is designed to build a foundation for a lifetime that includes community service.


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The Starfish Story

"While walking along a beach, a grandfather noticed his young grandson picking up starfish that had washed up onto the shore and gently throwing them back into the ocean. The grandfather asked his young grandson what he was doing. The child said he was throwing the starfish back into the ocean because starfish cannot live outside of the ocean. Upon hearing this, the grandfather stopped his young grandson. He said, there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile. You can’t possibly make a difference. The child listened politely. Then his young grandson bent down, picked up a starfish and gently tossed it into the ocean to catch the receding tide and said “It made a difference to that one.”


 -author unknown 

How does it work?

Elementary School Students are recommended for recognition and to compete for awards for age appropriate personal service.

The emphasis with our youngest students is exposure to the service concept.

Middle School Students follow the nomination procedures to win two categories of community service awards.

The emphasis with our tween aged students is engagement in service.

High School Students may apply to sit on the SPFC Teen Board. Board members are introduced to an advanced level of service while learning about leadership in an organization.

The emphasis with our high school students is to advance the service concept for students who have a demonstrated record of engagement or interest in community service. 

What's so different?

The focus of the Starfish Project for Children is on the child who is doing the service.

Why is it so great?

The Starfish Project for Children is founded on the belief that once service is “caught”, the feeling of personal satisfaction and confidence that results from doing community service will spur children to want to continue to engage in service projects, hopefully leading the child to integrate community service into their life.


Diversity Statement

The Starfish Project for Children, a.k.a. SPFC, is committed to being representative of our community.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, national origin or descent, gender expression or identity, age, condition of pregnancy, marital status, disability, source of income, family responsibility, height, weight, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local law regarding employment and program offerings.