Pictured: The Newbridge Road Elementary School student council presented a donation for $1,575.12 to Lynda Graham, president of Share the Voice, and her son John to fund adaptive tricycles for children.
Photos courtesy of the North Bellmore School District
The student council at Newbridge Road Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District set a modest goal of raising $550 for Share the Voice, an organization that provides adaptive tricycles and other mobility equipment to physically disabled children. When the grand total was announced, they had nearly tripled that amount.
Throughout March, students and staff were encouraged to donate loose change, with collection bins in every classroom. The month closed out with a schoolwide assembly, in which the total donation was announced – $1,575.12.
Lynda Brust’s third graders raised the most money of any class in the school, collecting about $220 in spare change.
Lynda Graham, president of Long Island-based Share the Voice, visited the school to accept the donation. She was joined by her son, John, who is the inspiration for the organization. Ms. Graham said Share the Voice has gifted 286 adaptive tricycles to children and even a few adults over the last decade, and Newbridge Road’s donation will benefit a person on their wait list.
“We wanted the children to see where their money is going to go,” Principal Amanda Licci said, of why they invited the organization’s founder and her son to the school.
The idea originated with first grade teacher Kerri Maxwell, who was familiar with the organization and thought it would be a great charitable endeavor for Newbridge Road students. She partnered with Joann Belferder and Cristina Guadagnino, the student council advisers, to make the project a reality.
First grade teacher Kerri Maxwell, who spearheaded the charitable initiative, checked in on students during their over-under relay, the school’s reward for exceeding the fundraising goal.
“We liked the fact that it was kids helping other kids,” Ms. Maxwell said. “Our Newbridge Road School students really embraced the mission and wanted to do their part to help other children.”
Ms. Guadagnino added that student council members set the goal and also came up with the idea for incentives. The class that raised the most money would get an extra period of recess. That honor went to Lynda Brust’s third graders, who alone collected $220.
There was also a schoolwide incentive that if they reached the goal, there would be a fun activity at an assembly. After the total was announced, students took part in an over-under relay. Students were split into the blue and yellow teams and the goal was to be the first team to move a ball from end to end, alternating between passing it over and under.
Recent Comments