Service and Justice Program

Living Catherine McAuley's mission is central to the philosophy of McAuley High School.  Every student is required to do service each year, combining Brown Projects and Gold Projects.
     Brown Projects are done for McAuley, a parish, and communities.  They are organized and planned projects that must be completed outside of school hours.  
     Gold Projects are done by volunteering directly with a social service agency that is on McAuley's approved list or must be pre-approved by Mrs. Keith, the Service Coordinator.

Freshmen are required to complete and record at least 5 hours of either gold or brown projects.  Click here for the Freshman Service Paper.
Sophomores are required to complete and record at least 10 hours of service, of which at least 3 of the hours must be gold projects.  Click here for the Sophomore Service Paper. 
Juniors are required to complete and record at least 15 hours of service, of which at least 10 must be gold projects.  Click here for the Junior Service Paper.
Seniors are required to complete and record at least 20 hours of service, of which at least 15 hours must be gold projects.  Click here for the Senior Service Paper.

McAuley’s Service and Justice Program consists of three groups open to all students:
KEY Club Service Projects;
McAuley Emergency Relief Fund (MERF); and
Social Justice Issues and Events.

KEY Club is a national high school service organization, McAuleys' largest club and sponsors all McAuley service projects.  Any student can participate in a KEY Club project at any time throughout the year, whether or not she is an official member.  Current  service projects/activities include: monthly rehabbing homes and apartments with Re-STOC in Over-the-Rhine and LaAmistad in Winton Place; monthly volunteering at CAIN Food & Clothes Pantry; weekly volunteering at Special Olympics events as well as hosting an annual Halloween party and luau for Special Olympics children; monthly cooking and serving meals to homeless individuals at Tender Mercies; and weekly tutoring children at Winton Place Youth Center and Grace Place, among others. This is just a sampling of service projects initiated and completed by McAuley students each year, and does not include other ongoing projects as well as one-time events such as the Buddy Walk, for which McAuley students walked and raised $1,000 for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati. MERF is also a student-run organization that organizes weekly collections for local, national and international non-profits.

MERF, run by a council consisting of students, faculty, and staff, collects money for a different charitable organization each week.  Collections are coordinated by the MERFettes who are representatives in each homeroom.  MERF educates students about each non-profit and why McAuley students are being asked to contribute. This group instills the practice of donating to charities at a young age.

McAuley students actively engage in social justice issues by organizing and attending lectures as well as promoting social justice issues at school and in the Cincinnati community. Each year, McAuley students’ involvement in social justice issues and activities is tremendous and is a wonderful reflection of these young women who are living the Gospel message and helping to create a world where all people live in dignity and peace.  

McAuley also offers several summer service and immersion trips.  Mission teams are chosen each year and sent to places such as the Bosco Home for Boys in Jamaica, Mission Honduras, and Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida.