HADDONFIELD, NJ — The leader of Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School got a nap with a view after his students raised more than $20,000 behind acts of kindness throughout the community.
On April 30, Principal Gerry Bissinger slept on the roof of the school after the student body ended up hitting their challenge by more than $1,000 over their agreed-upon challenge threshold.
"About 20 years ago, Craig Ogelby, former EH principal, spent an afternoon working on the roof," Bissinger told Patch. "I thought maybe I could top that...because it centers on students completing acts of kindness for others."
Armed with a tent, sleeping bags, an air mattress, lots of clothes, and a rain cover, he took to the sky.
The Raise Craze "Fundraising Through Kindness" campaign focuses on service rather than sales. Students carry out acts of kindness at home, in school, or at various other sites around the neighborhood.
These include helping with clean-up efforts, making cards for nursing home residents, inviting a classmate to play at recess, or helping family in different ways around the house.
The kids shared the acts through a secure online platform where supporters were able to boost the impact by making donations to the school.
The funds raised are being used towards field trips, special assemblies with authors and performances, books and technological resources, faculty wish list items, and enrichment activities like "Art Goes to School," "Science Olympiad," and "Battle of the Books."
This is hardly the first "stunt" Bissinger has done to connect with the student body.
During the last 12 years as principal, he has gotten buzz cuts, been taped to a wall, and played an "egg roulette" round.
"People won't remember you for how smart you are, how good you are at sports, what clothes you wear, or how you look," he added. "They'll remember how you made them feel."
The schools, Bissinger said, are truly the center of a Haddonfield community that he feels "incredibly lucky" to work in alongside his amazing team of educators and others.
When he is not admiring the township from above, you can find Bissinger grabbing a slice of his favorite pizza at "Nocella's Ristorante," or still taking in the great outdoors with family on a hike at Crows Woods.
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