Three weeks, over $4,000 raised for cancer research. It would be an impressive feat for any group of adults, but even more so for the 543 students of Schneider Elementary in North Aurora, who raised $4,171.59 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) over three weeks in February.
Campaign coordinator and front office receptionist Donna Kuntzi said that teachers and staff were overwhelmed by the generous response from students. “We were very honored to be able to do our part and were amazed at how the students responded to the need to help out,” Ms. Kuntzi said.
LLS’s School & Youth programs, including the Pennies for Patients program run at Schneider, teach students basic information about cancer, help them learn the value of service and involve them in three weeks of collecting change to benefit LLS. More than 900 schools in Illinois and Northwest Indiana will participate during the 2013-2014 school year, with a goal to raise more than $900,000 collectively.
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The funds help LLS continue to support blood cancer research and free support services, aid and information for families facing blood cancer. Leukemia, a blood cancer, is the most common form of childhood cancer.
At Schneider, the student council took the lead in encouraging students to get excited about the three weeks of fundraising, bookending the campaign with a kickoff assembly and a closing celebration assembly.
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Although LLS provides prizes for schools to incentivize fundraising, Ms. Kuntzi said that Schneider chose to focus on the mission aspects. A student at Schneider is currently finishing treatment for leukemia and her family’s story helped motivate students to give, as she was part of both the opening and closing assemblies.
During the three-week campaign, the student council organized a “scavenger hunt” of places for students to look for loose change. Unsurprisingly, said Ms. Kuntzi, “Mom’s purse” was the easy winner. Second place? The couch. One student also gave $237 of his own money to the cause, supported by his parents.
At the closing assembly, the school announced the winners – Ms. Campos-James’ second-grade classroom – and read a story to help kids think about the experience of cancer and the fears of the unknown.
“We are so appreciative to the students and staff at Schneider,” says LLS deputy executive director Heidi Snell. “Without the commitment of each and every student, and the change collected, we would not be able to continue to change quality of life for kids and people living with cancer.”
For more information about the School & Youth Campaign or to register your school, please visit schoolandyouth.org/il, or contact School & Youth at (312) 651-7358.
About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, New York, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the information resource center at (800) 955-45732, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
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