August 16, 2024 — Woodcrest Elementary School recently welcomed volunteers from investment firm Diamond Hill and reading program 2nd & 7 as part of an ongoing effort to invest in the future of the school's young leaders. Throughout the day, over 70 volunteers from Diamond Hill and 2nd & 7 participated in activities to enrich the student experience, including assembling care packages for people experiencing homelessness, building a sensory room, constructing a Free Little Library, and expanding the school store. These efforts support both the community and the students’ development at Woodcrest.
This partnership exemplifies Woodcrest's commitment to enhancing early literacy, promoting social and emotional learning, and fostering a sense of community responsibility among its students.
“Community partnerships and engagement increase and enhance student engagement," said Yolanda Cooper, principal of Woodcrest. "This shows that the community is investing in our future leaders. It has given them an opportunity to enhance their reading and math skills and to understand how to give back to the community.”
Diamond Hill is a financial services firm dedicated to making a positive impact through community engagement, while 2nd & 7 is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting literacy by providing books to young readers. Both organizations share a mission of empowering individuals through education and support, which aligns perfectly with Woodcrest Elementary's commitment to enhancing early literacy and fostering community responsibility.
"It's exciting to have Diamond Hill and 2nd & 7 come out to our building," said Jeri Hensley, a third grade teacher at Woodcrest. "For [students] to see it's not just my family or my teachers, but the whole community cares about how I'm learning, what I'm learning, what I'm using to learn, and also what's happening in my school."
To provide better support for the students and community, a Free Little Library and new Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) space will play a crucial part in diversifying learning spaces for students. In addition to serving Woodcrest students, the Free Little Library along the community walking path is full of donated books from Second and Seven to ensure that all children have access to reading materials, both at school and at home.
"We feel excited every single day that we can give a child a book and see what that means to that kid," said Amy Hoying, executive director of 2nd & 7. "We've been doing it for 25 years, and it never gets old or loses its impact or meaning because we know the challenges many of these families and these kids face."
In addition to a new SEL space and a Free Little Library, Woodcrest’s school store underwent a major transformation. The store, managed by the PTO, provides students with essential personal items like hygiene products, socks, and backpacks, all free of charge. The Diamond Hill team worked to sort clothing, clean, and make sure that each student that needs to use this space can do so with pride.
"We were honored to join with our colleagues to positively impact a great Columbus City School in a way that could start benefiting the kids right away with long-term benefits to come," said Rebecca Sheehan, talent acquisition and community engagement manager at Diamond Hill.
In the classrooms, Diamond Hill volunteers brought stories to life as they read to students and led engaging financial literacy sessions for fourth and fifth graders, preparing them with vital skills for the future. To ensure their impact would be felt long after they are done—outside, volunteers transformed the playground by installing new math-focused games, turning math into an exciting, hands-on adventure. This seamless blend of in-class learning and playful exploration ensures students can enjoy learning while developing essential life skills.
"The impact is they are seeing an extension of what we instill in them," Cooper added. "[Students see] that they are valued, important, intelligent, and Woodcrest stars."
The collaboration between Woodcrest Elementary, Diamond Hill, and 2nd & 7 emphasizes the critical role community partnerships play in supporting and enriching the educational experience at Woodcrest. These initiatives not only meet immediate needs but also empower students and their community to "Dream Big, Achieve More" by providing them with the tools and the safe space to live, play, and learn.
