Gideons Elementary students give ‘Pennies for Patients’

In just under a month, students at Gideons Elementary School raised $1,800 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies for Patients” program. Gideons’ students in all grades donated their pennies and encouraged family, loved ones and friends to do the same. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers schoolchildren in more than 3,000 schools around the country the chance to help children battling leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma by collecting spare change. Six Gideons’ classes collected more than $100 for the Society. Top-fundraising honors go to teacher Bernadine Macon’s fifth-grade class, which raised a whopping $540.03. The second-highest fundraising class was pre-kindergarten, raking in $447 by hosting an art auction.

“Our students were excited to participate in this fundraising initiative,” says Principal Armstead Salters. “In doing so, they learned compassion for others and shared in the spirit of selfless giving. I am so proud of their accomplishments.”