Schools

Morris Students Set Record for Coins for a Cause

This year they collected $13,573.32 for the Greater Morristown YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign and Provident Bank donated $1,000

The Harlem Shake has taken YouTube and the online world by storm. Here in Morristown, students are joining the dance trend, but for a good cause. Several fifth graders organized the (Thomas Jefferson) TJ Shake for Coins for a Cause.

The Annual Coins for a Cause project is a civics and character education curriculum developed by teachers in the District. Each year, the students, grades K-8, vote on which of three non-profits will be the beneficiary of the coins they collect in class over an 8-week period.

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, and they received a check for $14,573.32. $1,000 of it was donated from Provident Bank and the rest raised by the district’s six elementary schools and as Frelinghuysen Middle School.

Thomas Jefferson fifth graders Matthew Gamerdinger, Mia Cecala and Eva Oden were some of the student representatives at the Y for Friday’s check presentation.

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“We made announcements daily and organized a harlem shake and were shaking the coin bins,” said Cecala. “I’m happy it’s going to a good cause.”

“My favorite part was the announcements and the harlem shake video because it was creative and fun to do,” said Oden.

Gamerdinger did his part too with a unique costume idea.

“I’m glad the money’s going to the YMCA because they really need it,” said Gamerdinger. “I dressed up in a coin suit and helped advertise the project. I also helped people vote and inspired people too.”

Students are introduced to three local non-profit organizations, or candidates, who compete for students’ votes and coins collected. Non-profit representatives present their platform and the students discuss and debate the merits of each candidate in class. The students’ classrooms become the precincts they vote in and they cast their vote in official voting booths on Election Day. Provident Bank provided and paid for the voting booths.

“I think my favorite part is that the kids get to vote because it’s such an important lesson to teach them about their civic duty and the democratic process. The school has done an incredible job with this program,” said Normandy Park mother Anne Joyce. “The students liked the fact that they got to use a real voting booth.”

Normandy Park Principal Kelly Harte has coordinated the Coins for a Cause for the last few years.

“We are so delighted to be here (at the Y) today. We love … seeing the places that (benefit from) the money that we collected through Coins for a Cause,” said Harte. “I would really love to thank the committee members for the Coins for a Cause project. Without (their) excitement and energy, we wouldn’t have by no means gotten the collections and the kids involved as much as we did this year. This is our most successful year collection-wise. We are very happy that the Y’s Strong Kids is the recipient.”

Morris School District Superintendent Thomas Ficarra echoed Harte’s statement saying that the energy of the staff and teachers “ripples out into the student body.” Ficarra noted the students’ generosity and leadership.

“They did a great job. This is a great culmination and wonderful example of democracy. This is what good education is supposed to be,” said Ficarra.

Carol Armour, president and CEO of the Y said that the students have done a “phenomenal” job.

“I want to thank (the students) for choosing us through the voting process, which was really cool,” said Armour. “(They) got a chance to go into a voting booth and vote. What an opportunity. I want to congratulate Running Squirrel and Blue Flame, not only for their presentation but their outstanding work they do with the chidlren here at the Y … They work children ages six months to 15 years old. I’m absolutely floored by the amount of money that the children have raised … it was outstanding.”

Valerio and Harte organize bank representatives for each school, plan assemblies, the kick off, pep rally and the presentation of the non-profits to the schools. Provident Bank provided the ice cream social.

“Provident Bank, they’re our silent partners in Coins for a Cause … and we are always so grateful for their support,” said Harte.

“We’ve been doing this for several years and every year I’m really impressed,” said Lucio Valerio, vice president and area manager for Provident Bank.

“We here at the Y have children that can’t afford camp and because of (the students), 120 weeks of camp will be provided for children in our camp. That’s 65 children that will receive at least two weeks of camp,” said Armour.


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