Eastlake Middle School students had two projects for this year's Make a Difference Day.  One of them was a special effort of all 8th grade students, who sent thank you cards to area VFW posts and Veterans hospitals for Veterans Day. They invited a Vietnam veteran to speak to the class and together they watched excepts on situations that soldiers acted on behalf of our country. Their actions "made a difference" for our country. The students learned that without their heroic actions and selflessness, America might be an entirely different place to live. The students also prepared Christmas cards that have been sent to acting military through the Dear Abby letter program.

The second activity of  Eastlake Middle School, related to the Make a Difference Day, was a trip of 8th graders to Washington DC. Students learned about numerous events and individuals that "made a difference" in the formation and development of the United Sates and the world. Students were impressed by the Holocaust Museum when they saw The Wall of Remembrance. Written by one student, "These tiles symbolized how the children felt about the Holocaust and how it affected their lives. Two of the tiles said, Never Again, and Everyone is Equal." Monuments that students  saw of great American leaders were Franklin D. Roosewelt, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson. One thing that had amazing impact on the students was the Arlington National Cemetery. The students were equally moved by the Korean and Vietnam War memorials. One student wrote "...the Korean War Memorial. It was sad, but interesting because the wall had pictures of the soldiers on it instead of name's. It made these people that had fought and died for our country very real." Eastlake Middle School teacher Ms. Patricia Ujvagi coordinated the projects.
Arlington School in Toledo also participated in the year 2000 Make a Difference Day project. On October 19th, over 34 students and their parents came out to "clean up" the school grounds in preparation of the 75th Anniversary Open House of Arlington Elementary. Several students and parent volunteers come during the same week to complete the 2nd floor school border project.  5th graders wanted to do something for someone else for Make a Difference Day, that is why they are collecting books, and educational supplies for their Hungarian and Ukrainian peers. Principal Ms. Emma Szollosi coordinated the project.