Forest Road School Penny War Nets Over $2,100 for Charity

Forest Road School students in La Grange Park proved that small change can go a long way during a recent fundraising campaign. Just before the holiday break commenced in December, a Penny War was held between classrooms in an effort to celebrate Student Council’s theme of giving and raise money for a charity. This year Student Council partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and their “Pasta for Pennies” program. A total of over $2,100 was raised in a week-long period.

“Students look forward to this event each year, and Forest Road Student Council members work very hard to make a positive difference in the world,” said Kim McGann, Student Council co-supervisor.

A Penny War is a friendly competition that assigns point values to coins, both positive and negative. Pennies add to the overall total of a classroom, while silver change and paper money donations bring down the total. There are two declared winners: the class that accumulates the highest point value, as well as the class that raises the most money in donations. LLS will be donating a pasta party and an Amazon gift card to this year’s winning teams: Lynn Jarrick's fourth grade class (winner of most points) and Elyse Polickey's fourth grade class (winner of highest class donation).

Photo Caption 1: Forest Road School Student Council members Alivia Davis, Zoey Ullrich, and Natalie Quinn sorting money from a class collection container.

Photo Caption 2: Fourth graders and Student Council members at Forest Road School Max Holtz (left), Alex Georgie, and Jillian Wilder counting money from the Penny War.