Freshman raises $17K for Forgotten Harvest project

Notre Dame freshman is featured in Forgotten Harvest newsletter for his volunteer work.

Notre Dame’s Kevin Cragg will be entering his sophomore year in the upper division in the fall.

Notre Dame’s Kevin Cragg, a freshman at Notre Dame’s upper division, was featured recently in the Spring 2016 issue of Harvest News, the main newsletter of Forgotten Harvest, the Oak Park-based nonprofit dedicated to relieving hunger in metro Detroit and preventing nutritious food waste.

Cragg was highlighted for his work on raising critical funds for the construction of a badly needed greenhouse at Forgotten Harvest’s farm, located in Fenton, Mich. It’s still another example of a Notre Dame student living the mission of the school, which states that “With God we form Christian people, upright citizens and academic scholars.”

(From Harvest News – Spring 2016 issue)

Extraordinary young man! Extraordinary volunteer performance!
14-year-old Boy Scout raises $17,000 to build greenhouse at Forgotten Harvest Farms

Cragg is a member of Notre Dame’s robotics and lacrosse teams.

Kevin Cragg volunteered at Forgotten Harvest headquarters to obtain his Citizenship in the Community merit badge. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 1032, First United Methodist Church in Birmingham. Following his volunteer efforts, he visited with Forgotten Harvest Farm manager, Mike Yancho, and had a simple request: What could he do that would benefit the farm and help him achieve his Eagle Scout designation? Mike, a former scout, told him about his dream to build a greenhouse at the farm. Kevin did the research, found a greenhouse supplier in New Hampshire and started the effort to raise the required funds for what will be a 96×56 rolling greenhouse.

“The building will allow us to plant and harvest through four seasons of the year and serve as a test bed for sustainable practices at the farm,” Yancho said. Construction began in late May.

Kevin, who is in the ninth grade at Notre Dame Prep High School in Pontiac, has procured 57 Boy Scout merit badges, achieved a 4.2 grade average in school, recently joined his robotics team, “Killer Bees 33,” sponsored by Chrysler Foundation, in St. Louis for a worldwide robotics competition and plays goalie on his school lacrosse team.
Our thanks to Kevin, his family and the generous donors whose contributions will allow this young man to achieve a goal that will leave a lasting legacy.

(PDF of newsletter available here. Kevin Cragg is on page 6.)

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.