Ritenour High School

Confluence Academy

Willowbrook Elementary

Fairmount Elementary

There’s nothing pleasant about a disaster, but if you can dig down and find a bit of a silver liner, it’s getting to meet some amazing kids around our community. Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, kids from schools all across the St. Louis Area got together and raised funds for the American Red Cross Relief effort. So the past few weeks, I’ve been out and about collecting donations, meeting the inspiring kids who helped with the fundraisers, and educating the students and faculty on how the Red Cross is helping the people of Japan.

 

On Tuesday, April 5^th, I picked up a check from Ritenour High School for $1, 045. Members of the American Youth Foundation came up with the fundraiser idea. They placed envelopes in every teacher’s mailbox and encouraged them to pass along to their students. Students were then given the opportunity to donate what they could. In the photo from left to right: Dr. Robinson, principal; Andrew Petralli, President, American Youth Foundation; me; and Lucille Van Alstine, Foreign Languages Teacher.

 

The next day, I visited Confluence Academy. Teacher Kim Mitchell organized the fundraiser and each child was encouraged to donate at least one dollar. In the end, the students raised $720.00! From left to right are: Tavion Campbell, Tyrone Williams, Angel Peoples, Talia Favell, and in the second row is Principal Lacqweda Taylor. 

 

My next stop was Willowbrook Elementary in Creve Coeur. In addition to their donation of $1,672.27, the students had tons of cute questions for me about Japan, and about whether I ever had my picture taken with Clara Barton:) They even made signs welcoming the Red Cross to their school. So cute!

 

Last, but not least, was my visit to Fairmount Elementary in St. Peters. Teacher and Coach Susan Wessels organized the fundraiser with her team of student runners, Girls on the Run. Susan and the team provided envelopes to all teachers, who encouraged students to donate what they could. And the truth is, they donated so much money in change that we’re still counting! The students also had lots of great questions for me about the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.

 

It’s been such an honor to meet these students and I’m looking forward to more of my visits in the next couple of weeks.

 

Liz