Community Service

Community Service Organization (CSO)

Community outreach stands as a core value at Germantown Academy, and is thoughtfully and continually demonstrated through the efforts of our school-wide Community Service Organization (CSO).

Formalized by beloved Upper School teacher Peter McVeigh 1760 in 1986, CSO has taught generations of GA students the importance of opening their eyes to the world and lending a hand to those in need.

Making service efforts tangible is a critical aspect of translating social awareness from an abstract concept to something that is practiced daily. The more students can see the impact of their service, the more easily they stretch themselves to help others. When students reflected on service, they stated, "(service) should be local, personal, and teach you something about yourself."

CSO has continued to be a pillar of compassion and grown even stronger through efforts to unify service projects across divisions. One of the most impactful all-school CSO efforts is the Holiday Program, which brings the entire GA community together in late December to raise awareness for local non-profits and celebrate the season with music and readings. Each student is asked to contribute a gift, which is then distributed by CSO members to five charitable organizations that serve children in the Philadelphia region. The community collects nearly 1,300 gifts each year.

Volunteering & Student Leadership

Student leadership is also crucial to developing a culture of service, as students demonstrate to their peers the benefits of volunteering. In celebration of each Memorial Day, Middle School students create a display of remembrance at the front of the Pavilion.

The Thanksgiving Food Drive, a cooperative effort between CSO and the Parents’ Committee, is a school-wide collection of 150 turkeys and more than 5,000 pounds of food. The donated food is distributed to Our Lady of Hope Church in North Philadelphia and the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, proving that caring starts locally.

“CSO provides students with meaningful opportunities to look beyond the walls of GA and engage with the broader world," All-School CSO Coordinator Anthony Commale said. "Through these experiences, they gain a deeper understanding of others’ circumstances—including those of peers their own age—which helps foster empathy, emotional intelligence, and a strong foundation for leadership.”

Supporting Our Community

GA has developed several partnerships to show students the power of volunteering and supporting organizations that serve our community such as the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler, Gemma Services, Davenport Elementary School, and the Special Olympics of Montgomery County. If you would like to partner with CSO, please contact Anthony Commale, All-School CSO Coordinator.