This year the student body has adopted the Justin Pepper foundation as its primary philanthropy.  The Justin Pepper foundation is a local charity organization started by his parents after his death in car accident in 2007 when he was only twelve.

“The foundation takes in those in need in the Chapin area. They provide emergency housing for example, if your house catches on fire, the family can live there for a short period of time, until they get back on their feet,” said student body president Maggie Stroud.

Justin had a passion for giving even at an early age and enjoyed helping other kids and adults alike.

“When Justin was younger, he would always tell his parents that he wanted to assist a children’s home.”

The tradition began one Christmas when Justin donated a majority of his birthday gifts, which happens to fall near Christmas, to the kids at the Thornwell children’s home.

“In the years since Justin’s passing in a car accident, his parents have hosted a toy drive and a breakfast on his birthday in his honor with all the proceeds being donated to the Thornwell Children’s Home in memory of Justin,” said Junior Hannah Fallaw.

Justin also worked with his dad and brothers on Good Works projects in the Chapin community. He carried shingles to the men on the roof, painted, trimmed bushes, and did whatever else was needed.

The spirit of Justin’s selfless giving led him to help in other ways and eventually he began to work at Good Works, another local charitable group.

“Justin was a volunteer with Good Works.  He helped out there in the summer and that is why we support Good Works,” says Kari Pepper, Justin’s mom.

Good Works assists the foundation by helping with charity efforts and monetary support towards paying bills. They also take in donations from the Chapin community and hand them out to those in need.  CHS joined in the efforts to help the Justin Pepper foundation after student’s picked it earlier in the school year.  Currently, CHS is trying to raise $12000 to help support the group which is currently operating on insurance money from the accident, but that money is running out.  Chapin High School has been helping the Justin Pepper Foundation by having bake sales and raising money from events like Buff Puff and the Winter Semi-Formal.

The support of the foundation will continue through the school year.

Second semester CHS will be continuing to support the foundation. The student body will be fixing up a house for someone in the community.

With the help of Chapin students, Justin’s memory continues to live on through the efforts of the foundation and also through the friends that knew him.

“Justin and I were pretty good friends. He was really funny, fun to be around and to talk to also. He always had a big group of people around him, everyone liked him,” said freshman Nick Shealy