Atchison School in Tinton Falls Top School in the State to Raise Funds to Fight Heart Disease

Each year the students at Mahala F. Atchison Elementary School in Tinton Falls participate in a heart-healthy and heart-warming program called Jump Rope For Heart (JRFH).  This national fundraising program, sponsored jointly by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and the American Heart Association (AHA), promotes physical activities, heart healthy living and community service to children. 

As the culmination of fundraising efforts throughout the year, the school presented a check to the AHA for $33,079 at its annual Jump Rope for Heart recognition assembly on June 2. MFA ranks as the top fundraising school in the state and 14th for all schools nationwide.

In attendance at the event from the AHA was Regional Director Nan Cashon, and Regional Directors of  Youth Marketing, Andrea Jacobs and Andrea Mrusek.  The folks from AHA were on hand to offer words of praise to the students for both the funds raised and their awareness of heart-healthy practices. 

The AHA presented MFA with an achievement banner to hang along with the banners from the previous years of the school's participation in recognition of their fundraising achievement.  This was MFA's ninth year participating.

At MFA, physical education/health teachers Lynne Landis and Ed Davis create, promote and produce a series of Jump Rope events through out the year, including special activities in their gym classes that focus on pulmonary and respiratory exercise stations and a Family Jump Night, with various jumping and jump roping stations for the whole family.  Participating students raise funds by collecting sponsors.

Landis said she cherished her involvement with Jump Rope over the last nine years, adding that the most fulfilling aspect of this work is connecting the idea of the need for the funds with the fun of raising them.  She recounted the story of a family that came to Family Jump Night in honor of a 15-year-old friend who had suffered a heart attack when shoveling snow.  The friend survived, surely because of the sorts of advancements in the care of the heart that the fundraisers fuel. 

"The young man and his family came to the jump night to witness the student who was jumping in his honor," Landis said.  "What an emotional moment for me to meet him and hear his story of survival.  It really brought home to me the reason why we participate in the program. My hope is that the children will use this experience to grow into productive and caring citizens who understand the value of giving back."

To reinforce those lessons and to honor the children for their efforts, the faculty of MFA put together a silly, fast-paced, music driven show that involved teachers and administrators jumping rope in absurd costumes and makeup.  The deafening and wonderful sound of children's laughter, the student body of MFA thoroughly enjoying seeing their teachers ham it up, was proof that just rewards and appreciation was exchanged through the program and the day's event.

Landis praised the staff for volunteering and performing for the children.  The cast included 30 staff members. Landis concluded, that despite the extra energy and effort staff members must devote to the event, all involved thoroughly enjoyed the chance to perform.

"The staff is already asking what the theme is for next year so they can begin to gather props and costumes in anticipation of another fun and heart-filled event in 2012," Landis said.

Below, a list of MFA's top fundraisers (teacher's names in parentheses) and MFA alumni who also raised funds for Jump Rope For Heart.

2011 - Top Fundraisers

Kindergarten

1^st - Zachary Jersey – $135        (Migliazza)

2^nd - Fazal Ahmad – $125            (Rogers)

3^rd - Kamlyn Bevacqua – $110      (Eberhardt)

Small Classes

1^st – Cameron Woolley - $510    (Brennan)

2^nd – Taylor Maddaluna-Sprogis - $250    (Stroever)

3^rd – Jack Bevacqua - $75     (Hauschild)

First Grade

1^st – Ashley Propst - $2000          (Migliaccio)

2^nd – Emily Merrill - $775               (M. Gorman)

3^rd – Danielle McLaughlin - $500       (D. Gorman)

3^rd – Lilly Marshall - $500                 (Gregg)

Second Grade

 1^st – Colleen Fisher - $1,113          (Bianchi)

2^nd – Ryan Peduto - $1000             (Hoahng)

3^rd – Michael Bettencourt - $606        (Konrad)

Third Grade

1^st – Adam Varela - $1,100        (Black)

2^nd – Sydney Hand - $1.075       (Wiley)

3^rd – Nicholas Chunn - $285        (Wolff)

Alumni

Hope Cahill - $110

Photi Louzakos - $1000