Norcross Elementary Raises Funds for Cancer Research

In efforts to helping the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, held a fundraiser where it raised $3,120.63, doubling its donation goal. 

The fundraiser, Pennies for Patients, lasted three weeks and involved not only the students, but the parents and teachers. Their original goal was to raise $1,500.

"As the staff, we were just overwhelmed with their generosity," said Assistant Principal Mikka Solomon, who coordinated the project.

The project was simple enough: Students were given a Pennies for Patients box that they would put money in and then bring it back to school to add to their classrooms' collection buckets.

"Lots of them actually, according to the teachers and the students, would pull from their piggy banks at home, find coins lying around, [and give] money they had earned from doing chores," said Solomon. "One teacher even matched what her class gave."

She believes one of the reasons that the students were encouraged to donate was because of a video the school showed as part of the Pennies for Patients project. The video, "Why, Charlie Brown, Why?", tells a touching story about a Peanuts character who is diagnosed with leukemia and how her friends react.

"This is probably the third activity we've done schoolwide in terms of reaching out to the homeless and sick," said Principal Dora Hill. "Our students are really in tune to reaching out."

The school will be celebrating the success of the fundraiser by giving all students an ice pop on Valentine's Day. First, second and third place winners were also given to the classes with the most donations: First place will have a pizza party, second place will have an ice cream sundae party, and a popcorn party will be awarded to third place.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which will be receiving all donations, is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research. It also assists in providing education and patient services.