By Katy Gagnon
A group of PS 41 third graders gathered on the steps outside their Bayside school Tuesday morning to present a check for $3,100 to the president of UNICEF.
The students raised the money to benefit children who lost homes, schools and loved ones in the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked China's Sichuan Province last month. The money, which took the students about two weeks to raise, will go toward rebuilding schools and spaces for children, said Caryl Stern, the United States Fund for UNICEF president.
"I spoke to China last night and told them that you were doing this," Stern told the children, who included her own son, James LaRosa, 8. "You really are saving lives."
The children handed Stern an oversized paper check for the money and received a plaque from UNICEF in return.
"Thank you, thank you very much, because so many kids don't take the time to worry about helping other kids," Stern said.
The students were studying China in school when the earthquake struck May 12. They even wrote about the event in their class journals.
Parent volunteers Larry Lue and Teresa Pan helped organize the fund-raising, which included fliers, posters and persuasive letters authored by the students asking for donations. The kids also collected money from parents as they dropped their children off at school in the morning.
John Kabbani, 8; Alessandra Morali, 9; Michael Lue, 8; Nicholas Doss-Hom, 9; and Matthew Pan, 8; were among the 45 third-graders involved in the effort.
"I didn't think people would donate so much money," Alessandra said, adding that it felt good to help out other children. Her classmates agreed.
"What if this happened to us?" asked Nicholas. "Think of it as they would help us if it happened to us."
The students join other borough groups that have raised money for the quake victims.
Earlier this month, the Flushing Chinese Business Association, and members of the Chinese American Women Commerce Association presented a check for $162,451 to the American Red Cross in Queens' president.
In addition, Queens College held a silent auction of Chinese art and martial arts and musical performances to benefit the cause earlier this month.
Reach reporter Katy Gagnon by e-mail at kgagnon@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext 174.
