They Gave to the Community as Freshmen. As Seniors, They Gave Back to Us.

May 18, 2026 | Written by Branden Waggoner

There is something quietly wonderful about watching a student who first learned to give come back, years later, and give again.

In April 2026, the leadership team of Lakota East High School's National Honor Society presented Magnified Giving with a $1,500 gift at their Induction and Senior Recognition Ceremony. The donation was chosen by the NHS Class of 2026, who pooled funds raised over the course of the school year and voted on where those dollars would go. They chose us! And when Elise Brown, NHS president, reached out to let us know, she explained why in a way that stayed with us.

For many of these students, Magnified Giving was not a new name. As freshmen, they had taken part in a Magnified Giving project through their English class, researching local nonprofits, selecting one they cared about, and building presentations to share those organizations with their classmates. They listened to each other's stories, learned about causes that mattered to people around them, and ultimately voted for students who would have the chance to grant real dollars to the nonprofits they had chosen. For some of them, it was the first time giving felt personal.

Four years later, sitting together as seniors and NHS leaders, they looked back on that experience and made a decision. In Elise's words: "Since most of us had been introduced to Magnified Giving our freshman year, it felt like a full circle to be able to give back. We want to help carry out your mission of inspiring philanthropy in kids and letting them discover not only what they're passionate about, but also how to give back and make a difference."

That is exactly what this work is for.

Magnified Giving founder Roger Grein attended the ceremony on the evening of April 23rd to represent the organization and accept the gift in person. Watching these students step up to the stage, check in hand, to honor something they had been part of four years earlier was the kind of moment that reminds us why this mission matters. These students were not just donating, but rather completing a cyclical journey!

The Lakota East High School National Honor Society

We are so proud of the Lakota East NHS Class of 2026 and deeply grateful for Elise's leadership and the thoughtfulness her peers brought to this decision. A gift like this carries weight well beyond the dollars. It is proof that when young people are genuinely invited into philanthropy, something takes root. And sometimes, years later, it grows into something you didn't even expect.

Thank you, Lakota East. We hope to carry your generosity forward in everything we do.