The Power of Purposeful Events
Throughout my career in education, I’ve seen firsthand how student events can either be superficial fundraisers or genuine opportunities for growth. When I first started organizing the Stockton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, it was simply an idea to bring our community together around a shared love of basketball. Fifteen years later, that same event had raised over $50,000 for local causes, and students who participated learned far more than how to shoot a jump shot. They learned responsibility, teamwork, and the importance of giving back. As a principal, I’ve come to believe that community-based activities—planned with intentionality—have the power to transform school culture and strengthen student character. In this blog, I’ll share why events with a clear purpose make such a difference, how to plan them effectively, and practical examples from my own experience.
Understanding the Value of Community-Based Activities
When students work side-by-side with community members—whether it’s coaching younger children in basketball, timing a 5K run, or collecting donations for a local shelter—they develop a sense of belonging and responsibility that goes beyond the classroom. In many schools, events are organized merely to check a box: a dance, a talent show, or a bake sale. While these can be fun, they often lack a deeper connection to the broader community. By contrast, community-based activities allow students to see their work as part of something larger than themselves. They understand that their efforts have tangible impact, whether they are helping raise money for the local food bank or organizing a neighborhood cleanup. Over time, these purposeful events become part of the school’s identity, reinforcing values like empathy, collaboration, and civic engagement.
Planning Events with Clear Objectives
The first step in creating a meaningful event is to ask, “What do we want students to learn or experience through this activity?” When my brother and I launched J3 Timing and Wine Run 5K, our goal was to promote healthy living while supporting local businesses and charities. As educators, we can adopt a similar mindset by defining clear goals for each event. For example, if we want students to develop leadership skills, we might ask them to plan and execute a community yard sale, handling logistics, marketing, and vendor outreach. If our objective is to foster empathy, we could organize a clothing drive for a women’s shelter, involving students in collection, sorting, and distribution. By articulating specific learning outcomes in advance, we ensure that students understand why their work matters and how it aligns with broader community needs.
Building Character Through Service
Service-learning is more than volunteering; it’s an educational approach that integrates service goals with curriculum objectives. When students see service as part of their academic and personal growth, they become more reflective and engaged. For instance, when our Stockton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament raised funds for youth sports programs, participating students took ownership of outreach to sponsors, budgeting, and coordinating volunteers. They learned negotiation skills when securing sponsorships, time management through coordinating game schedules, and compassion by choosing to direct funds toward children who lacked recreational opportunities. These lessons stayed with them long after the final buzzer sounded. As a principal, I’ve encouraged teachers to link event participation to classroom assignments—students write reflections on what they learned, present their outcomes to peers, or analyze the social impact of their service. This integration ensures that events are not just extracurricular activities, but central components of student learning.
Enhancing School Culture and Engagement
A school’s culture is defined by its shared values, traditions, and norms. Purposeful events create traditions that align with a positive school culture. When students, staff, and families rally around a common cause, a sense of unity emerges. In one of the schools I led, we started a “Run for Respect” 5K that brought together cross–country teams, faculty, and local police to promote anti-bullying efforts. Each year, that event reinforced our commitment to kindness and safety, and students took pride in wearing themed T-shirts, cheering on their classmates, and witnessing community support. As principal, I saw attendance increase, parent engagement rise, and the overall mood of the school improve. When students feel connected to a shared mission, they exhibit stronger school spirit and demonstrate more positive behaviors in classrooms and hallways.
Case Study: Stockton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
The Stockton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament began as a small fundraiser for our youth league. Over time, it became a hallmark event of our community, attracting participants from neighboring towns and raising significant funds for scholarships, equipment, and community programs. Each summer, I worked alongside teachers, parents, and student volunteers to handle logistics—registering teams, scheduling games, and managing concessions. More importantly, students volunteered as referees, scorekeepers, and event coordinators. This experience taught them leadership, conflict resolution, and the importance of accountability. Younger participants saw high school students modeling sportsmanship and responsibility. Local businesses offered sponsorships, and students learned to draft sponsorship proposals, track donations, and thank donors. The tournament not only built character in the players but also showcased our school’s commitment to community partnership. As a principal now reflecting on those years, I recognize how much we gained through collaboration: trust built between the school and local stakeholders, real-world experiences for students, and a tangible demonstration that our school cared about more than just test scores.
Tips for Principals and Educators
If you’re a principal or teacher looking to develop similar events, consider these practical steps:
- Define Clear Objectives: Identify the skills, values, or knowledge students should gain. Whether it’s empathy, leadership, or community awareness, a clear purpose drives planning and reflection.
- Engage Stakeholders Early: Involve parents, local businesses, non-profit organizations, and city officials in the planning process. Early buy-in ensures broader support and resources.
- Assign Student Leadership Roles: Give students ownership over tasks—marketing, budgeting, logistics, volunteer coordination—so they gain authentic leadership experience.
- Integrate Reflection and Assessment: Link event participation to classroom projects. Ask students to write reflective essays, present data on funds raised, or analyze the social impact of their efforts.
- Celebrate and Acknowledge Contributions: Recognize student volunteers, thank sponsors publicly, and share success stories through newsletters, social media, or assemblies.
- Evaluate and Iterate: After the event, gather feedback from participants, volunteers, and community partners. Analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve next year. This continuous improvement mirrors an entrepreneurial mindset and ensures future success.
Building Lasting Impact
Student events with purpose do more than fill a school calendar; they build character, strengthen school culture, and foster community partnerships that extend far beyond our campus. When I reflect on my years organizing basketball tournaments, running 5Ks, and supporting local charities, I see how those experiences shaped not only participating students but the entire school community. As principals and educators, we have an incredible opportunity to transform challenges—like funding gaps or disengaged students—into strategic opportunities for growth. By intentionally designing community-based activities that align with our values and student learning objectives, we can cultivate a school environment where every student feels empowered to make a difference. In turn, these purposeful events become traditions that define our school’s identity and inspire future generations to lead with integrity, empathy, and a genuine commitment to their community.