Service and compassion continue to define the Independence Local Schools community—both on and off the field. The Independence 7th and 8th-Grade Football program, led by Coach David Weiss, has once again shown how sports can inspire meaningful change through acts of kindness and generosity.
This past August, the team kicked off the season with its annual food drive, collecting nearly 100 pounds of food for Audrey’s Outreach food pantry in Brook Park. The organization later sent a heartfelt thank-you card to express appreciation for the team’s support in helping local families in need.
Another fun element of the annual food drive has become a much-anticipated team tradition: after the drive concludes, any player who donates food items earns the chance to throw water balloons at the coaching staff as a “reward” for their leadership in service. This year was no exception—after a late-summer practice, the coaches lined up as players gleefully launched around 300 water balloons their way.
“As a coaching staff, being soaked and a little sore from the water balloon pelting is a small price to pay to encourage service leadership,” said Weiss. “And we’ve found that throwing water balloons at the coaches is highly motivating for the players to donate!”
Their giving spirit didn’t stop there. At this year’s Fall Sports Awards Night, Coach Weiss invited players and their families to bring non-perishable food items for a Thanksgiving initiative that supports families through his workplace, the Positive Education Program (PEP) Prentiss Autism Center. Thanks to the generosity of the Independence football families, the team collected enough food to fill two large boxes and five additional bags—providing the ingredients for full Thanksgiving dinners to several families in need.
“The response was overwhelming,” Weiss shared. “My colleagues at PEP were blown away by the compassion and generosity shown by our football families.”
Their kindness has also reached beyond the football field and the holidays. Last winter, when a PEP student’s family became homeless, the 7th and 8th grade football families stepped up—donating gift cards, beds, bedding, and other essentials so the family could start over. This fall, when another PEP family faced a similar hardship, the Independence families once again answered the call, providing clothing, diapers, and personal items to help them get back on their feet.
In addition to these community drives, a group of about 10 players spent part of their summer volunteering at PEP’s annual Summer Special Olympics event. Their continued involvement and kindness have made a lasting impression on PEP staff and students alike.
“My principal at PEP has repeatedly expressed how impressed she is with the respect, kindness, and helpfulness our players show when volunteering,” Weiss said. “It’s incredible to see our athletes grow into leaders who care about others.”
Superintendent Kelli Cogan praised the program’s example of leadership and compassion: “The examples you shared truly demonstrate the impact that comes from teaching our students the importance of volunteering, compassion, and caring for others. Those are some of the most meaningful lessons we can provide—and it’s clear that your leadership is instilling those values in our student-athletes.”
From collecting food and gifts to volunteering their time, Independence’s young athletes and their families are cultivating a legacy of excellence—one rooted in service, empathy, and community.
