2011 Penny Challenge Raises Money for Troops

Berkley families, start saving your loose change now! The Spirit Club will conduct its annual fundraiser, the Penny Challenge, the week of April 25 – 29. This year it’s being called “Pennies for Patriots” because the club will use the funds to buy care packages to send to troops serving overseas.

The Spirit Club usually raises approximately $1,000 through this event. Past Penny Challenges have gone to help causes in the school such as buying new playground equipment or games for children to play at lunchtime. Other years they have contributed to causes in the larger community such as the Historic New Bridge Landing.

This year’s cause came about because of a former New Milford student, James Tufaro, Jr. who is currently serving in the United States Navy and is stationed in Afghanistan. His mother, Renee, has been raising money in order to send packages to troops serving there. Renee is currently working on getting local schools involved with this effort. After approaching Berkley Principal Patricia Aufiero, it soon became the focus of the Spirit Club’s 2011 Penny Challenge.

“One of the things I like most about the Penny Challenge is that the kids are  building toward something positive, whether it’s for the Berkley community or the larger community,” said Brian Gere, one of the Spirit club advisors.“They are doing something good for others and also themselves.”

Under the supervision of Gere and Tara Reuter, the other advisor, the Spirit Club members ask all classes in the school to collect their loose change for one week. In kindergarten and first grade classes, students gather all change in buckets.

In the older grades, the project really becomes a “challenge”. Students in each class put as many pennies as they can into their bucket each morning. The total is determined and then students from other classes visit each others’ rooms after the morning announcements.

The visitors put silver change in the buckets and try to exceed the amount of pennies with their silver coins. Classes then determine who won the challenge—the class or its visiting contributors. The challenge helps to raise the amount of money contributed and makes the fundraiser an exciting event for students.

After classes complete the challenge each day, the money is picked up by Judy Rabinowitz-McSweeney, New Milford Board of Education trustee and an employee of Valley National Bank in New Milford.

A former Berkley parent, McSweeney was familiar with the Penny Challenge but did not realize it was the Spirit Club advisors who were counting all of the money each day. Thanks to the support of the Valley National Bank, she was able to step in and assist.

“Upon learning of this situation and realizing the amount of work involved, I offered my assistance,” said McSweeney. “As a member of the New Milford Board of Education, I am honored to be able to give back to my community.”

Each day she gathers the buckets of money from all of the classes and takes it to the bank where the coins are tallied using VCOINWORKS coin counting machines. Once completed, the totals are reported to Aufiero. At the end of the week-long event, the class with the most money on each grade level is rewarded with a prize such as ice cream.

“The penny challenge is a popular event in Spirit Club,” said Reuter. “The kids look forward to competing with other classes to see who will raise the most money.  They are having fun while donating to a good cause.”

Want to find out how you can contribute or help this year’s cause? Contact Renee Tufaro at home at 201-261-6169 or on her cell phone at 201-410-4577.

Upcoming Berkley Events:

• April 12: 12:35 dismissal for students. Teachers’ Professional Day.
• April 14: New Milford Open House 6:30 p.m. at NMHS.
• April 15: Cultural Awareness Day…wear the colors of your country’s flag!
• April 15: Berkley International Night 7 p.m. at NMHS.
• April 18 – 22: Spring Break.
• April 25 – 29: Penny Challenge
• April 27: School Board and Budget Elections 2 – 9 p.m.
• April 29: Berkley Walk-a-Thon and School Spirit Day. Wear green and white.