Building a Giving Culture from Day One
New principal Alissa Poduska partnered with OtterCares and MindSpark Learning to make Project Heart central to Bamford's identity before the school even opened.
When Alissa Poduska took on the role of principal at Bamford Elementary — a brand new school in the Poudre School District — she started with a clean slate and a powerful question from OtterCares: “What about being a Project Heart school?” That question launched a school-wide journey of professional development, with educators learning how to weave the principles of Project Heart into their lessons and curriculum in an easy, personalized way.
Bamford Elementary opened in August 2021, and from day one, giving was baked into the school’s identity. As part of Project Heart, students decided to create a food pantry for their community — what they named the “Pack Pantry.” As a culminating event to close out the school year, community members were invited in to hear the students’ vision and celebrate the impact they had already begun to create. Partnering with OtterCares and MindSpark Learning, Bamford became a living example of what’s possible when an entire school commits to being a force for good.