Abington Junior High Trades 'Pennies for Pasta'

Last week, Abington Junior High School donated $3,800 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as part of the “Pasta for Pennies” program. The fundraiser, which ran through February, had students and staff members bring in extra change to be donated to the organization.  

Teacher Danielle Martinelli has been spearheading the fundraiser for the past 14 years along with teacher Mollie McGeary, who has been involved for seven years.

The Olive Garden restaurant provides a pasta “dinner” for the top-fundraising classrooms. This year, students from Jeannette Sicilia’s homeroom and Stephanie Gates’ homeroom contributed the most; the students in each homeroom donated $351 and $345, respectively.

According to the restaurant’s website, since 1994, the program has raised more than $53 million to support life-saving initiatives against blood-related cancers. More than three million students have participated over the years.

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Information and photos courtesy of Byron Goldstein/Abington School District