Under the leadership of founder Paul Savramis, the nonprofit organization Rising Stars developed programs emphasizing athletics, academics, and community service. One such program, Meals from the Heart, was established in 2009 as an annual event where Rising Stars participants volunteer to assemble food packets for local pantries and organizations serving the less fortunate. Now a tradition, over 30 boys and girls volunteer each April at the Long Island Lutheran High School gym to create and distribute packets of vegetables, beans, rice, and soy products, with dietary needs in mind. The 2014 event aimed to assemble and distribute 300,000 packets, enough to feed 500 children for a year.

1. Rising Stars’ Meals from
the Heart Program
Paul Savramis

2. Rising Stars’
Meals from the
Heart Program
 A lifelong humanitarian, Paul Savramis is the founder and
President of Rising Stars, Inc. Under his leadership, the non-profit
developed many innovative programs that focus on the
development of students as a more complete individual. These
programs put emphasis on the importance of the combination and
the balance of athletics, academics, and community service. In his
newly elected role as President Paul Savramis has played an
integral role in the creation of the programs core curriculum that
includes mandatory attendance in keynote seminars throughout
the time participants are a part of a Rising Stars team or affiliated
program. Community service is also a part of that curriculum.
Rising Stars participants choose from a number of local charities
and they volunteer time and service.

3. Rising Stars’
Meals from the
Heart Program
 One of the clear favorites chosen is the Meals from the Heart
program. Established in 2009, the Meals from the Heart program
are a Long Island initiative to serve the less fortunate. Meals from
the heart have become an annual event for the Rising Stars
organization to help students meet community service goals.
Now, more than an annual event, the Meals from the Heart
programis a tradition that has brought together more than 30
Rising Stars boys and girls together every April.

4. Rising Stars’
Meals from the
Heart Program
 Volunteers arrive at the Long Island Lutheran High School gym to
assemble food packets for distribution at local food pantries and
global organizations. Packets contained a variety of vegetables,
beans, rice, and soy products. Dietary needs were also considered
as each packet was created. The goal for the 2014 event involved
creating and distributing 300,000 food packets, which would feed
500 children for an entire year.