Region 15 Students, Faculty Raise Money for Japan Relief

Editor's Note: The following press release was created by Region 15

Students and staff from the Pomperaug Regional School District 15 used their talents and creativity to help fundraise to help people in Japan recover from the devastating tsunami and earthquake. Many student and faculty groups raised money to donate toward the victims, some of which are highlighted here.

On April 8th, students from Gainfield Elementary School participated in Crazy 4 a Cause where the children wore crazy clothes and hairstyles for a dollar donation to the victims of the tsunami and earthquake.  The students and staff raised $380.

Middlebury Elementary School art teacher, Mrs. Kathy Miller, reported that the MES art enrichment students sold key chains to raise about $175 to contribute to the people of Japan.

Memorial Middle School staff participated in a “Dress Down” day on April 1 and students donated spare change with all contributions going toward the relief effort.

The cornerstone of the fundraising efforts was a Region 15-sponsored benefit concert called "Healing with Harmony" for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. At the April 2nd event, students, teachers, and parents performed songs and dances in the three-hour long program which raised over $3000. As part of the effort, MMS art students created message magnets to sell.

One of the performers at “Healing With Harmony”, Long Meadow Elementary School second grader Clara Tu, won second place of the Knicks Kidzbop Sport Jamz Talent Search at Madison Square Garden.  Clara, the daughter of Felicia Zhang and Duanhua Tu, was the only pianist to become a finalist in this talent search in the past few years. Her family donated two N.Y. Knicks game tickets which were auctioned during the concert intermission. The winning $350 bid went directly to the Salvation Army - Japan Earthquake Relief.

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who helped make the Healing With Harmony Concert a huge success,” said Mrs. Margaret Chaves, MMS music teacher and coordinator of the event. “We raised over $3000 to help the victims of Japan and so many wonderful talents were on display from all ages. It was truly a coming together of people from the Region 15 community for a great cause!”

If you wish to contribute to the Japanese relief, please send a check to:

Salvation Army

Memo: Japan Earthquake Relief

Salvation Army World Service Office

International Relief Fund

PO Box 630728

Baltimore, MD 21263-0728