UPDATED Sunday, May 17, 2009 --- 6:20 a.m.

MIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) — The senior class at one Dane County high school is giving away more than $37,000, representing all the money it raised over four years.

The Middleton High School Class of 2009 is presenting the cash gift to Middleton Outreach Ministries, a nonprofit that serves people in need in parts of Madison.

At least half the money came from donations. The rest came from proceeds from proms, homecoming and other fundraisers.

David Miller is the charity's executive director. He calls the gift "significant" and says it took his staff by surprise.

He says he's most impressed with the maturity of students who are looking outward instead of looking at what they can do for themselves.

The class co-presidents hatched the idea, and the 481 members of the senior class agreed to it.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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Posted Thursday, April 16, 2009 --- 5:00 p.m.

The number of homeless students at Middleton High School has grown to 81. And this year, District-wide in Middleton - Cross Plains, the homeless rate has more than doubled. And as NBC 15's Michelle Riell reports, the Middleton High School Class of 2009 saw that need and is using its year-end class funds to help.

Sean Jackson, Co-President of the Senior Class says, "Traditionally, each class at MHS accumulates a set amount of funds through the sale of Homecoming tickets, Prom tickets and various other fund raisers like bake sales or the like and then that money will go towards a senior class gift." Co-President of the Senior Class Steve Ticknor adds, "In the past they've bought water bottles or donated a sign to the high school. This year we wanted to help the community out and help those in need. So we decided to donate all 11,000 to MOM, Middleton Outreach Ministries."

It took some research and persuasion to get fellow students on board, but the co-student council presidents finally gained enough support.

David Miller with Middleton Outreach Ministries says, "We think it's just fantastic that these kids have decided to do this. It's really an inspiration to the community that young people have taken on the responsibility of doing something good for the community."

M.O.M. is a community supported organization which relies on donations and food drives to help provide nearly 30,000 services a year to people in need. Miller says, "It helps provide for some of the things we need to buy here at the food pantry and also supports a lot of our other programs that really make an impact in the community."

But these students aren't stopping at one donation. They're asking the community to get involved in their change the world challenge. Ticknor says, " We want to throw the challenge out to the community, to schools and businesses. We want to get them all to find a local charity, wherever they are to donate to it to fight poverty."

The students gave a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce and have already raised nearly $20,000 in additional donations. It's a legacy they hope to leave behind after graduation. Jackson says, "When it comes down to it, we could pay for a water bottle that says 2009 on it and look back in 10 years and say, I've got this water bottle. Or we can spend that money to help our neighbor in need, because there are a lot of people out there who truly need our help."

The Change The World Challenge is going on through graduation day on June seventh. If you'd like to donate, log onto www.changetheworldchallenge.com.