West Hempstead Middle School recently held a Pennies for Patients fundraiser, collecting more than $2,900 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The two-week fundraiser asked students in grades 6-8 to donate spare change during their homeroom periods. The students created their own collection boxes to accept donations from friends, families and neighbors, as well.
At the end of each day, the students sent their donations to the main office of the school, which ultimately sent a grand total of $2,906 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to assist in finding cures and improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.

Inspired by the sizeable donation, the Pennies for Patients foundation rewarded the largest middle school donors with a bagel breakfast.

Photo Caption: West Hempstead Middle School students recently held a Pennies for Patients fundraiser, raising $2,906 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Photo courtesy of the West Hempstead School District

College athletes throughout the nation commit to following specific rules and regulations, such as supplement restrictions, immediately after signing on to play for a university.

Recently, however, college athletes are being held to a moral standard as well. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics maintains a specific set of values that athletes are required to adhere to.

Coaches, athletes and administrators take online classes every year to reacquaint themselves with the program’s goals. According to the NAIA Champions of Character, their goal “is to provide training to instill the values that build character so students, coaches, and parents know, do and value the right thing on and off the court.”

John Brown University athletics, as part of the NAIA, encourages student athletes to uphold the five core values emphasized within the NAIA program. These values include integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The last value is emphasized throughout JBU in the form of community service.

“I know that all of the coaches encourage [community service],” Conner Bedor, a junior on the cheerleading team, said. “I don’t think it’s just because of Champions of Character.” Each athletics team tries to serve within the community at least once a semester, Bedor said.

“A lot of times I don’t even think about it. It’s not like I’m doing a service activity; it’s easy and really fun,” senior cheerleader Rachel Baack said.

JBU athletic teams participate in service projects ranging from volunteering in a soup kitchen to helping cleaning houses.

The entire cheerleading team, for example, participated in the Siloam Springs Heart Walk last year. One of their teammates had undergone heart surgery when she was younger. The cheer team wanted to support her by participating in the heart walk.

“We led stretches for everyone who was doing the Heart Walk,” Bedor said. While the NAIA does not require a certain number of community service hours, Bedor said that at JBU, volunteering is not presented as fulfilling a quota, but as an activity that promotes Christian love and service.

“Because we go to JBU and all the girls are so kind it is just really dear to all of their hearts,” Bedor said about volunteering.

Baack agreed.

“I’ve really enjoyed being part of a campus that encourages that,” Baack said about volunteering. “At JBU it’s really not a difficult thing to find ways to volunteer.”

While JBU student athletes may find it second nature to volunteer in the community, but within universities nationwide such acts are not the norm.

According to the NAIA Champions of Character, “Research shows that the longer a student spends in sports, their social reasoning – sacrificing for the good of the team – rises, while their moral reasoning skills – doing what is fair, just, honest and noble – decline.” The NAIA tries to combat this occurrence by requiring sportsmanship training and encouraging leadership within the community.

While time as a college student is an all-too-rare commodity, Baack encourages student athletes to step outside their comfort zone and volunteer.

“I think it’s really shown me the importance of stepping outside myself and recognizing that the things that I think are so small can be such a huge blessing for other people,” Baack said.

Source: http://advocate.jbu.edu/2017/02/23/athletes-help-the-community/

Students at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School in Croton-on-Hudson have leaped into a new program that encourages them, and the community, to embrace a heart-healthy lifestyle.

They were introduced to Jump Rope for Heart, an American Heart Association initiative, through their physical education classes this month. Students have learned about the importance of developing heart-healthy habits and have picked up jump-roping skills as part of the effort, while independently fundraising to support cardiovascular research and education.

Physical education teacher Suzanne Leslie said the school initially set a fundraising goal of $5,000, but quickly surpassed it by raising more than $8,000 to date.

“The money goes straight to the American Heart Association,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of the students and the parents and the community – it’s pretty neat.”

To join CET’s Jump Rope for Heart fundraising team, please click here, choose Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary and add “Ms. Leslie” as the leader name.
View a video of CET students participating in Jump Rope for Heart on the Croton-Harmon Schools district website, www.chufsd.org.

Photo Caption: Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School in Croton-on-Hudson raised more than $8,000 for the American Heart Association as part of its Jump Rope for Heart initiative.

Photo courtesy of Croton-Harmon Schools

The Syosset High School Peers Reaching Out club recently presented a check for $1771 to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6394. The money was raised through a fundraising breakfast conducted by PRO in conjunction with the school’s Peer Helpers and Student Government.

“Syosset High School recognizes the dedication of the VFW and is grateful and humbled by their service to our great nation,” said PRO adviser David Anderson.

Syosset High School staff, local veterans and students attended the breakfast held at the school in November in conjunction with Veteran’s Day.

Thanks to Woodbury Deli for donating food for the event; Syosset High School Student Government, which contributed money to purchase some food, and all of the students and staff who volunteered their time to prepare and serve the meal to our nation’s heroes. Many students came to school the night before to help set up the dining area to ensure a successful event.

Photo Caption: The Syosset High School Peers Reaching Out club, in conjunction with the school’s Peer Helpers and Student Government, conducted a breakfast fundraiser and subsequently raised $1771 for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6394. Students are pictured here with PRO adviser David Anderson (back row, far right) and local veterans.

Photo courtesy of the Syosset School District

Setauket Elementary School students joined the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart initiative this winter, as they participated in a 10-station obstacle course in their physical education classes.

The students jumped rope, as well as danced and navigated through the different challenges as they worked to keep their hearts and bodies healthy. In addition to the health benefits for the event, the students also worked to raise funds to support the American Heart Association’s work.

“It felt really great to help to raise funds knowing that they would help people with sick hearts,” said first-grader Lilly Rampone, who personally raised more than $200 by setting up a hot chocolate stand on her driveway.

Annually, Setauket School raises between $5,000-$8,000 for the American Heart Association.

Photo Caption: Setauket Elementary School students helped to raise funds for the American Heart Association this February as they took part in heart-smart physical activities.

Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District