Fri, 06/05/2026 - 3:26pm

By BILL PEARSON

These Southport Central School students researched various nonprofits for a philanthropic donation. The group selected Soles4Souls of Nashville, Tennessee for their $2,000 donation. Southport Central School Philanthropy Committee, from left, front row, Rivers Healy, Lily Billings, Ceci Jackson, Owen Fessenden and Aiden Noonan. Second row, from left, Jonah Fessenden, Shepard Griffith, Aurora Wallace and Theo Kurtz. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register

June 8, Southport sixth grader Jonah Fessenden will speak to a worldwide audience. Fessenden along with Southport Central School's fourth through sixth graders were invited by Soles4Soles, a Nashville nonprofit, to participate via live streaming during their annual conference.

Soles4Souls creates an opportunity for people through shoes and clothing — keeping usable goods in play and helping people move forward in education, work and life, according to their website.

Earlier this year, Southport fourth through sixth graders donated $2,000 to the project. For several years, an anonymous donor has donated $2,000 to the school for a charity project. Each year, students research various charities, and a school vote results in a donation. Last year, Southport students selected the Travis Mills Foundation which supports post 9/11 families through long-term programs.

The selection of Soles4Souls is the first non-Maine selection by Southport students in five years. Principal Shawn Gallagher reported the donation to Soles4Souls resulted in a surprise. "When I told them about the donation, they told me it would result in 100 new sneakers for Maine students," he said. "Then they invited us to take part in our worldwide presentation on Monday."

Fessenden will speak on behalf of the school Monday morning. Gallagher said Fessenden would speak for 10-12 minutes.