Giving Back To The Community

8 Mar 2001

DISD Schoolchildren Award $16,015.88 to 13 Non-profit Organizations

Students from 20 DISD elementary, middle and high schools awarded $16,015.88 to 13 non-profit agencies. The money was collected by the students during the 2000-01 Common Cents Campaign–a coin collection community service project.

Involving more than 180 schoolchildren, the Common Cents project was designed to raise money for charity and to encourage good citizenship and social responsibility in young people. In November, these students attended an hour-long workshop on the philanthropic spirit of giving.

This marks the third year students have participated in the Common Cents project. It was three years ago when Louise Gartner, a retired Dallas resident, introduced Common Cents to DISD. The first year, students raised approximately $8,100. Last year the schoolchildren distributed $18,690 to 23 charity and non-profit organizations.

Of the total money awarded this year, the students at J. L. Long Middle School collected $3,303. The students at Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary collected $2,128.50; and the students at Obadiah Knight Elementary collected $1,957.

After all the pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters were collected, a roundtable of students selected which agencies were to receive the funds based on proposals submitted to the program. Following is a list of the organizations selected by the student roundtables.

• Sarah Zumwalt Middle School awarded a $1,300 grant to Shaun's Place to purchase music and rhythm adapted toys for children with disabilities.

• Obadiah Knight Elementary awarded $1,957 to three organizations. The ARC of Dallas received $800 to purchase a digital video camera for editing to include closed captions, voice-overs and other options. Challenge Flight received $500 to sponsor 10 physically challenged and seriously ill children to participate in the Challenge Air program. American Red Cross was awarded $657 to increase account balance for disaster relief in and around 2615 Anson Road.

• George Peabody Elementary awarded $1,000 to Our Neighbor's Closet to purchase clothing and shoes for needy children and parents.

• J. L. Long Middle School awarded three grants. The HIV Prevention Center received $1,101 to purchase HIV educational materials. The Injury Prevention Center of Dallas received $1,101 to purchase smoke detectors for homes in East Dallas. American Red Cross received $1,101 for disaster relief around the school.

• Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary awarded two grants. American Red Cross received $1,500 for disaster relief around the school. Pleasant Grove Library received $628.50 to purchase science fair books and materials.

• Casa View Elementary awarded $1,075.80 to American Red Cross for disaster relief in the school's community.

• Louise Wolff Kahn Elementary awarded $1,000 to Calumet Community Center to help fund its after school program.

• Four grants were awarded from the combined collections of the following 13 schools: Amelia Earhart Elementary, Billy E. Dade Learning Center, Daniel "Chappie" James Learning Center, David W. Carter High, George W. Carver Learning Center, H. S. Thompson Learning Center, Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary, J. J. Rhoads Learning Center, Lincoln High, Lisbon Elementary, Pearl C. Anderson Middle Learning Center, Thomas Edison Middle Learning Center and W. H. Atwell Academy. The students from the 13 roundtables awarded $501.58 to Head Start of Greater Dallas to supplement supplies and snacks for children. The Bethlehem Center received $1,250 to purchase education software, classroom supplies and recreational equipment for youth. The Juvenile Diabetes Center Dallas Chapter received $1,250 to help finance cure research. The Dodd Educational and Support Center received $1,250 to help fund the academy's mentoring program for girls.

For news and information about the Dallas Independent School District, visit www.dallasisd.org