As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
28 Feb 2001
Back in November, students across the Dallas Independent School District started donating their pocket change to make a difference in their community. Now more than 70 school days later, those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters have accumulated a nice sum of money for charity.
Dallas schoolchildren will announce the recipients of the more than $16,000 collected during the 2000-01 Common Cents Campaign at a press conference scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, in the Auditorium at the Administration Building, 3700 Ross Avenue. (MapscoŽ key 45H)
Common Cents, a coin collection campaign, is not only designed to raise money for charity and nonprofit organizations, but it encourages good citizenship and social responsibility in young people.
General Superintendent Mike Moses will join the schoolchildren from 21 Dallas elementary, middle and high schools to make the presentations to nine nonprofit organizations.
"When our boys and girls participate in community service projects, it teaches them the importance of giving back to society," Dr. Moses said. "These young people should be commended for their dedication to collecting money for the local nonprofit organizations in our community."
This marks the third year students have participated in the Common Cents project. It was three year ago when Louise Gartner, a retired Dallas resident, introduced Common Cents to DISD. Mrs. Gartner will attend the press conference along with Bob Hopkins, president and founder of the magazine Philanthropy In Texas. Hopkins conducted an hour-long workshop in November on the philanthropic spirit of giving for the 180 schoolchildren participating in the community service project.
For more information, call Leo Chaney, DISD Communications Department, (972) 749-2419. For news and information about the Dallas Independent School District, visit www.dallasisd.org