Avon Heritage Elementary Raises $20,000 For Blood Cancer Research

AVON, OH — Avon Heritage Elementary recently shattered fundraising records for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The school collected an astonishing $20,000 for blood cancer research.

The fundraising campaign, called Pennies for Patients, ran through February, kicking off with students being inducted into a Hero Squad during an assembly. It was a small event that foretold big fundraising.

“These are kids who get really excited by the fact that they can help others,” said Erin Zaranec, campaign manager for Pennies for Patients. “The Avon Heritage community has been incredible to work with throughout the campaign’s history. This year, the students and staff were really dedicated to achieving record-breaking numbers and their efforts paid off.”

To raise the money, the school participated in a variety of seemingly small fundraising activities: penny wars, paint nights, and online fundraising face-offs. There are approximately 970 students attending Avon Heritage, and fundraising efforts were led by teachers Andrea Bailey and Amy Rottman.

Since 2005, Avon Heritage has taken part in the Pennies for Patients campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Over that decade and a half, the school has raised more than $96,000.

Last year, Avon Heritage raised $16,289. That means in one year, the school increased its donation by more than $3,700.

“This is the highest fundraising school we’ve had in Northern Ohio history,” said Lindsay Silverstein, LLS’s Northern Ohio Chapter Executive Director. “Because of new and better
therapies, blood cancer survival rates for children have improved significantly during the last
several decades, but there still more work to be done. Leukemia is one of the most common
types of cancer in children and adolescents, so LLS’s Pennies for Patients program provides a
meaningful way for kids to help kids. Avon Heritage is proof that a huge impact can be made
with pennies.”