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BALLSTON SPA — Students in the Ballston Spa Central School District have successfully donated $89,747 during the past ten years to local non-profit organizations through participation in an annual Penny Harvest program. This year, students collected over $9,400 in pennies during the fall 2017 harvest. They recently donated the funds to eight local non-profit organizations during the district’s annual SEFCU Penny Harvest Celebration that took place on School Pride Day. This year, over 80 students were chosen as Penny Harvest leaders in their schools and were responsible for researching local community issues and the non-profit organizations that address them.
Members of the student roundtable in each school interviewed representatives from local organizations and discussed how their funds could be used to further support these non-profits. The annual SEFCU Penny Harvest is implemented in grades K-12, in all six school buildings in the district, and has proven to be successful in educating students in service learning and financial literacy. This program teaches students about the importance of philanthropy and service as well as teaching math, communication, and team building skills. The Malta Avenue Elementary School students donated to two organizations, Make-A-Wish Foundation ($622.67) and Ronald McDonald House ($622.67). The Albany Medical Center Children’s Hospital and The Saratoga County Animal Shelter both received $1,406.29 from Gordon Creek Elementary School students and the Buddy Blankets & Bears received $897.59 from Milton Terrace Elementary School students. Students at Wood Road Elementary School chose to donate their $1,412.99 to the Brave Will Foundation. The Ballston Spa Middle School chose to give funds to the American Cancer Society ($1,239.44) and CAPTAIN ($1,239.44). Ballston Spa High School students donated their funds to Buddy Blankets & Bears ($552.77).
This program is made possible by the dedication of the Penny Harvest advisors in each school, including Jolene Hansen, Milton Terrace; Kimberly Moryl, Gordon Creek; Anna Nickson, Wood Road; Matthew Nafus and Jessica Skillings, Malta Avenue; Ryan Mazierski, Ballston Spa Middle School; and Rachel Jeffers from the Ballston Spa High School. The program is implemented in the fall of each school year and awards presented to the local charities in May. The district is very grateful to SEFCU for sponsoring the program and processing over 940,000 pennies.
For more information, please visit the individual school websites or contact the BSCSD Office of District Advancement at 518-884-7195.
