Lesson learned, when 10 fifth-graders put their collective thoughts together, nearly anything is possible.
By Andrea Papagianis
The 10 members of the Del Obispo Elementary School Student Council organized the entire student body to raise more than $1,700 for cancer patients. Shown here (Top Row L to R) Isabella Gula Beard, Zoe Schmitzer, D’Mitri Evans, Miles Ettinger, Mrs. Jessica Comstock, Caroline Craven and Ivy Ondo, Bottom Row: Nina Benjamin, Sage Groves, Noah Cuevas and William Short. Courtesy Photo
In one week’s time, 10 fifth-graders rallied the student body to fight for the little guy.
When members of the Student Council and Character Counts Committee at Del Obispo Elementary School challenged peers to raise $500—in one week—in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, they took the lead.
With the help of teacher Jessica Comstock, the students made calculated preparations and spread the word to students, parents and faculty through handmade posters, morning announcements, organized letters and recorded home messages.
And their hard work paid off.
The student population responded with more than $1,700 in donations for the society’s Pennies for Patients campaign, which began collecting coins for cancer in 1994.
“This is an amazing group of kids,” said Eric Gruenewald, principal at Del Obispo, of the young students who put their individual motivations and experiences together to help others. “This group has a passion for being the champion of the underdog and for assisting those in need.”
One member of the student council in particular, Sage Groves, rose to the challenge and collected nearly $600 in charitable donations. Sage will be recognized in the coming weeks for her outstanding efforts to help the school far surpass its goal, Gruenewald said.
In recognition of their success, a representative from Pennies for Patients spoke to the student body to inform them of how the helped others. Gruenewald said the reaction from the kids was “tremendous.” The student council will now focus on their next project, raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County through sales of Valentine’s Day “friendship grams.”
