Penny Harvest, Uncategorized »

Courtesy of Community Foundation of South Jersey

WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ – This June, students from three local schools will present nearly $12,000 in grant awards to 20 not-for-profit organizations. Students from Williamstown Middle School, and Oak Knoll and Holly Glen Elementary Schools collectively raised $7,946 through the 2010-2011 Penny Harvest Campaign, collecting pennies and loose change to fund a student directed philanthropy program and service learning projects. The Mildred Stiles Michael Fund at the Community Foundation of South Jersey matched 50% of the funds student raised, providing an additional $3,974 for the students to allocate to Gloucester County not-for-profits.

Student leadership selected the charities following a year long project, which included canvassing the entire student body for issues that are important to them, researching appropriate charities that address these issues, and coming to consensus upon the selected issues and charities. Issues identified by the student body spanned a wide range of topics, from disaster relief including helping victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, basic needs such as food/clothing and shelter, assistance to animals, and health and human service needs.

During the school year, students also participate in service learning projects benefitting the local community. The Middle School children plan to prepare meals for families staying at the local Ronald McDonald House. Holly Glen students collected health care and hygiene items for donation to support people affected by this spring’s tornadoes and floods. Students at Oak Knoll will purchase basic supplies and assemble baskets for school families that are in need.

According to Hannah, a third grade student at Holly Glen Elementary School, “Penny Harvest helps people who have a lot going on and who cannot help themselves. I felt the money collected will help a lot of people. The Penny Harvest was fun because we had a lot of things to do like coming up with a play to introduce to the student body, collecting the pennies and voting on charities.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to introduce this program into our school”, stated Dana Mericle, Principal of the Williamstown Middle School. “The program’s emphasis on helping children explore the issues and programs within their community is a strong complement to our Caring Community character education program. Our students enthusiastically participated in this worthwhile program.”

Benefiting organizations include:

American Children’s Society
American Heart Association of NJ
American Red Cross – National Disaster Relief Fund
American Red Cross – Gloucester County Disaster Relief Fund
Cystic Fibrosis of NJ
Easter Seals of NJ (for Autism):
Global Giving Japan Disaster Relief Fund
Japan Platform
Juvenile Diabetes
Make A Wish Foundation of NJ (with donation going towards a child in Gloucester County)
Oak Knoll Parent Teacher Organization (for the benefit of Oak Knoll families in need)
Oasis Animal Sanctuary
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Robin’s Nest
Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey
Smile Train
Susan G. Komen Foundation
The Road Company (for the benefit of rebuilding the Grand Theater)
Volunteers of America Delaware Valley (Eleanor Corbett House/Glassboro, NJ)
Young Survival Coalition
Founded in 1991, the Common Cents Penny Harvest grew from one child’s desire to feed the homeless. For the past 19 years, children between the ages of four and 14 have been converting their natural compassion for others into action by collecting pennies and turning those pennies into grants for community organizations. $8.1 million in grants has been donated by children since 1991! The Penny Harvest shows young people they have the ability to make the world a better place by introducing them to the power of philanthropy and service during their formative years. As children help others, they develop their generosity and moral character, and they learn through practice the skills and responsibilities of democratic participation.

Founded in 2007, the Community Foundation of South Jersey is a public charity community foundation that was founded to harness the philanthropic power of South Jersey residents, helping them envision and create the type of community they want to see. At the Foundation, donors create charitable funds – both large and small – to address needs and embrace opportunities in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties.