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Pierz students raise $5,000 'Pennies for Patients' money raised in honor of classmate Staff Writer Junior high and high school students at Pierz Healy High School raised more than $5,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, with the help of area businesses.
Judy Meierhoser, Pierz career center coordinator, said the school raised the fifth-highest amount of funds for the society when compared to other schools in the state who are the same size as Pierz.
Meierhoser said the fund-raiser, "Pennies for Patients," began in February. She said the school chose to raise money for the leukemia society to help fellow student Brett Barett, an eighth-grader at the school.
The school placed jars with a picture of Brett on them in every classroom for students and staff to place pennies in.
"People started out putting pennies in the jars, but later began putting other coins in the jars," said Meierhoser. "Within two weeks of the fund-raiser, we met our goal of $2,500."
Meierhoser said the school could not quit after two weeks and ended up taking the fund-raiser to the community for help. Businesses agreed and placed jars for customers to donate coins and other cash.
In the end, the school and community raised $5,065.
"The kids were very generous," said Meirhoser. "One boy handed in a whole bucket of pennies with a $100 bill on top of it. It made you want to cry.
"It was awesome seeing all the kids donate money."
JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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