FUNDRAISERS
Astoria students pool efforts for Pennies for Patients program

Each year, the students and faculty at P.S. 122 in Astoria pool their efforts to raise money for a worthy cause. This year’s beneficiary was The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which received $6,500 following the school’s participation in the Pennies for Patients program.
Pennies for Patients was created by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society about seven years ago. The organization holds assemblies at participating schools to educate students about cancer, research, treatment and how they can help. According to the society, leukemia kills more children and young adults younger than 20 than any other cancer.
Coin boxes are placed throughout the school to collect spare change. Students said they got change from their parents, donated some of their own money and brought in lose change they found.
“It just sounded like a worthwhile charity and we decided on this one,” said P.S. 122 paraprofessional Donna D’Andrea, who coordinated the school’s efforts.
From the very beginning, D’Andrea said that everyone at P.S. 122, which runs pre-k through eighth grade, was very enthusiastic about this particular fundraiser, which took place from late January to mid-February. Her initial goal was to raise $3,000. As the program went on, she said students began bringing in more and more change, with some of the younger students donating money they had received from the tooth fairy.
“I was very touched by the kids’ outpouring for this,” she said.
When all was said and done, the approximately 1,350 students had raised $6,500. Stacey Economopoulos’ fourth grade class raised the most with about $664.
“They were highly motivated on their own. They’re very warm children, they’re very sensitive children,” said Economopoulos, whose cousin died of leukemia 20 years ago. “Everybody brought in something.”
Michael Osso, the executive director of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s New York City Chapter, said that most schools raise between $1,000 and $2,000.
“It’s really a phenomenal effort on their part,” Osso said, adding that P.S. 122 will probably be in the top five once all schools have finished with the fundraiser.
Osso said that, throughout New York City, 335 schools take part in the Pennies for Patients program, including about 80 in Queens. He estimated that these schools will raise approximately $300,000 this year. During the years that Pennies for Patients has been around, $17 million has been raised nationwide.
“This was one of our highest collected fundraisers,” D’Andrea said. “Most people know someone who has some form of cancer. It touched a lot of people.”
Eleni Shyta, a fourth grader in Economopoulos’s class, said that taking part in Pennies for Patients was fun and that it was nice to help those who will benefit from the fundraiser.
“I think that every penny counts and if you find a penny you shouldn’t just throw it away,” Shyta said.
Classmate Toshar Ahmed said that he used to just kick at change he saw lying on the street. However, now that he has seen how much it can help others, he picks it up and saves it.
The students said that they were very proud of their accomplishment. Sarah Elhachimi also said that participating in Pennies for Patients taught her to be thankful that she is healthy.
Osso pointed out that Pennies for Patients shows schoolchildren the importance of giving back to the community.
“It helps to be passing that message along to young people,” he said. “They learn that when they work as a team they can really make a tremendous difference in the world in which they live.”
For more information on Pennies for Patients, visit www.schoolandyouth.org or contact Andi Grahlman at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by call 646-660-9007.