Annual School Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Hits Its Ninth Year

Students at are on a mission to sell 5,000 twenty-five cent Friendship Grams by Friday, Feb. 11.

Sales kicked off on Monday and as of mid-afternoon Tuesday, they had reached almost half their goal, according to school staff.

Friendships Grams include a personalized Valentine’s Day card with a Silly Bandz attached and can be delivered to any student or faculty or staff member within the school.  Parents have even jumped on board and are ordering them for their children and friends of their children.

The grams will be delivered to classrooms on Valentine's Day February 14. For this one special day only Bryant’s 1,000 students are permitted to wear up to five bands. The bracelets are not normally allowed at school.

The school's Student Council and Peer Mediators will benefit from the annual fundraiser, said Deborah Hamilton, a school guidance counselor.

“This has been a tradition every year since the school opened and the students come to expect it every February," Hamilton said.

Since several children have food allergies, the school decided to sell something other than candy this year. The Student Council created a list of alternate ‘gifts’ including pencils, stickers and decorative erasers, until finally deciding on the Silly Bandz.

“Parent volunteers have been essential to the effort," said Hamilton, pointing out Diane Russell, a parent. “Ms. Russell has been instrumental in coordinating all the logistics of selling and promoting and we are very grateful to her and the other participating parents."

Friendship Grams will be on sale February 7 through February 10 from 7:30am to 8:00am in the courtyard of the school. Grams will be sold for $0.25 each.