Rockets support local non-profit with the help of Magnified Giving

Students in Mrs. Kendra Lonneman’s personal finance classes learned about the importance of philanthropy and supported pediatric cancer research by participating in the Magnified Giving program.

Magnified Giving is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire, and engage students in philanthropy. Magnified Giving gives $1000 donations to groups of students and asks them to invest the money in a local non-profit.  Students research social causes that touch their hearts, explore non-profits serving those needs, meet with agency representatives, and decide how their money can best make an impact.

After much research and debate, Rockets chose to support The Live Like Maya Foundation with their Magnified Giving funds. Founded in honor of Maya Collins, the foundation funds pediatric cancer research, provides financial assistance to families of children battling cancer, and continues Maya's legacy of fostering kindness and goodwill.

Bonnie Collins, Maya’s mother and President of the Live Like Maya Foundation, visited personal finance classes this week to personally thank them for their gift and to share more of Maya’s story.

Senior Ashley Jarrold, whose group pitched The Live Like Maya Foundation to the class, said, “My group members and I have all been a part of Night for the Fight [which also supports pediatric cancer research] so we wanted to learn more about Maya’s story. Being able to hear and see the strength that Maya’s mom has and what the impact this foundation has on her was truly amazing. You could tell the love that she has for helping others and she has inspired me to want to do the same.”