Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Many Gresham Community School students and staff members wore blaze orange Friday as a sign of moral support for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which helps fund research and caregiving for patients diagnosed with blood cancers.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Gresham Community School senior Christian Haffner holds up a large check for $1,025, the amount of money raised in the school’s Pennies for Patients campaign this year. Troy Kuhn, left, the school’s student council adviser, said he hoped to get all of the elementary grades a pizza party for donating so much to the campaign.
Gresham Community School exceeded its goal for its fifth annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser, which ended Friday, but not before one student donated $150 in loose change to the cause.
Addison Boucher, a sixth-grade student, did not know how much change was in the jars she brought to school, but it was the vast majority of what her grade brought in over two weeks — $198.78. Had it not been for Boucher’s large donation, the fifth grade would have been the top fundraiser.
Although the students donated primarily to help research and caregiving for blood cancers such as leukemia, Boucher had another goal in mind when she brought in her money.
“I just wanted my class to have a pizza party,” Boucher said, noting that was the reward for the grade that raised the most money.
Prior to announcing the 2015 campaign raised $1,025 (the goal was $800), senior Christian Haffner noted that the money will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Pennies for Patients has been a national fundraiser for the society since 1994.
“We’re working together to aid thousands of children and adults in the fight against blood cancers,” Haffner said. “Approximately every 3 minutes in the U.S., one person is diagnosed with blood cancer.”
Teacher and student council adviser Troy Kuhn applauded the elementary grades as a whole, as they consistently give the lion’s share in Gresham’s annual campaign.
“Maybe because the elementary worked so hard on this program, maybe you can get a pizza party someday,” Kuhn said, clarifying that he will need to get approval from school administrators.
Brianna Stehberger, student council president, said the school is always eager to show support for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A number of students wore blaze orange Friday to symbolize that support.
“They always donate a lot of money,” Stehberger said. “Around $700 or $800 we probably would have imagined this year, but we exceeded that.”