Homeless students get help from ‘I'm A Star'

“I'm A Star Foundation” teen servant leaders will kick off Jacksonville HELPS (Homeless Students Empowered through Leadership, Partnership & Service) Week with multiple events aimed at helping their peers.  Starting Saturday, September 15, 2018, “I'm A Star” teens will host its 3000 for 3000 Moment of Hope, a gathering of youth at Hemming Park, to honor the 3000+ homeless students currently in Duval County Public Schools.  A student is identified as homeless if he/she lives in a shelter, hotel, with relatives or on the streets.

Students are channeling the power of focusing 3000 seconds (50 minutes) on the 3000+ homeless students, to make a change.  Therefore, the event will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and end at 10:50 a.m.  The event is free and open to the public.

The agenda will include an introduction by DCPS Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene; choral, creative dance and spoken word performances; speakers (two formerly homeless students); a yoga session; Dance Like No One Is Watching; a ribbon tying ceremony for trees; and a writing/hand printing on the "Wall of Hope."

In addition to other volunteer service events, Jacksonville HELPS Week will culminate with the annual Celebrity Basketball Game on Saturday, September 22, 2018, 6 p.m. at Paxon School for Advanced Studies.  Tickets are $5 and may be purchased HERE.  High school all stars will play celebrities in this match-up, to raise money for homeless students.  Celebrity player names will be released later this week.  Recently, NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers' President Magic Johnson shows his support for the Celebrity Basketball Game.

Since 2012, the Foundation has raised a total of $96,500 via live telethons, a 5K and three celebrity basketball games — donating all funds to the Duval County Homeless Education Program.  Out of the total amount raised, I’m A Star Foundation has awarded 20+ scholarships to homeless students entering college.  To hear the stories of scholarship recipients, please watch How Does It Feel To Be A Homeless Student?