Local Second Graders Donate to Children in Need

second grade students and their teachers, led by Sydney Lee, issued checks on April 25, to Save the Children USA and to Everest Academy in Manila, Philippines, Pinecrest’s sister school, for relief efforts. Funds benefit families devastated from natural disasters around the world. 

Representatives from the corporate office of Save the Children USA, Save the Children Japan, Everest Academy in the Philippines, and Pinecrest Academy, participated in a video presentation during which the Pinecrest students proudly held oversized mock-ups of checks they were sending to benefit relief efforts in the Philippines and Japan.

This thrilling event marked Pinecrest’s first-ever Webex global video conference. The presentation simultaneously connected parties from five locations, and time zones, around the world – Tokyo and Sendai, Japan, Manila, Philippines, Connecticut, and Georgia.

The event was made possible by efforts from Pinecrest’s three second grade classes, who in February, raised more than $1,400 through a three hour school wide bake sale.

One-half of the bake sale proceeds were presented to Save the Children, Japan to assist with relief efforts from the tsunami and earthquake that struck last spring. The other half went to Everest Academy in Manila, Philippines, to assist with their efforts to support neighboring provinces suffering from mass flooding resulting from fall typhoons.

“We want to say ‘thank you’ to the children of Pinecrest Academy, and yourself [Ms. Lee] and staff for the wonderful effort made to raise funds for children in Japan,” said Dave and Paulette Hassell, senior advisors for Save the Children Japan, in a letter to Lee. “The children accomplished so much with their effort; one that reached out to touch the lives of children in another part of the world.”

“Pinecrest’s mission is to develop Christian leaders who go out into the world to make a difference,” said Lee. “It is very important to us to convey to our students that there is no age barrier, nor any geographical limitation to what they can do when it comes to helping those in need. All they need is a desire to help.”

The video conference presentation was the culmination of a year-long international collaboration between Pinecrest and Everest Academy. Early in the school year, Lee’s second grade students began corresponding with students at Everest via the Web, sharing what they were learning, writing letters, and sending photos.