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A student-driven fundraiser has raised nearly $1,500 to provide humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims of Haiti.
Darcee Kissler's fifth-grade students at Fraser Valley Elementary School came up with the idea on their own, she said.
“Monday morning (Jan. 18), my students came into class wanting to discuss the news about Haiti and share what they knew. As the day progressed, it seemed our conversations continued to revert back to Haiti ... And then someone said it. ‘How can we help?'”
Students brainstormed ideas as Kissler recorded their thoughts on a white board.
“One of the students asked how many students were enrolled in Fraser Valley Elementary, and how many staff. We sent a search team out to find the answers. Three hundred total was the reply,” Kissler said.
So Kissler's students decided that if every member of the school brought in $1, they could send $300 to the people of Haiti.
They agreed they would send proceeds from their Haiti project to the official Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
The classmates put up posters in the halls of the school and formally asked other students to donate.
They left an empty envelope with each class, and on Wednesday, Kissler's students returned to each classroom and collected the envelopes.
“It feels really great because it's just a good cause,” said fifth-grader Erin Emery.
“I actually think everyone feels good because the people in Haiti live off of $2 a day, and our (donation) can make a big difference,” said Emery's classmate Drew Alamo.
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is overseen by former Presidents Clinton and Bush through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas.
According to the website www.clintonbushhaitifund.org, 100 percent of donations received by the Clinton Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas go directly to relief efforts.
“What a proud moment for these kids,” Kissler said, after her class had counted the donations. “My hope is that through their efforts they will each create an individual foundation of giving and selflessness.
“Isn't that what our world needs?”
— Tonya Bina can be reached at 970-887-3334 ext. 19603 or e-mail tbina@skyhidailynews.com.
Darcee Kissler's fifth-grade students at Fraser Valley Elementary School came up with the idea on their own, she said.
“Monday morning (Jan. 18), my students came into class wanting to discuss the news about Haiti and share what they knew. As the day progressed, it seemed our conversations continued to revert back to Haiti ... And then someone said it. ‘How can we help?'”
Students brainstormed ideas as Kissler recorded their thoughts on a white board.
“One of the students asked how many students were enrolled in Fraser Valley Elementary, and how many staff. We sent a search team out to find the answers. Three hundred total was the reply,” Kissler said.
So Kissler's students decided that if every member of the school brought in $1, they could send $300 to the people of Haiti.
They agreed they would send proceeds from their Haiti project to the official Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
The classmates put up posters in the halls of the school and formally asked other students to donate.
They left an empty envelope with each class, and on Wednesday, Kissler's students returned to each classroom and collected the envelopes.
“It feels really great because it's just a good cause,” said fifth-grader Erin Emery.
“I actually think everyone feels good because the people in Haiti live off of $2 a day, and our (donation) can make a big difference,” said Emery's classmate Drew Alamo.
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund is overseen by former Presidents Clinton and Bush through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas.
According to the website www.clintonbushhaitifund.org, 100 percent of donations received by the Clinton Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas go directly to relief efforts.
“What a proud moment for these kids,” Kissler said, after her class had counted the donations. “My hope is that through their efforts they will each create an individual foundation of giving and selflessness.
“Isn't that what our world needs?”
— Tonya Bina can be reached at 970-887-3334 ext. 19603 or e-mail tbina@skyhidailynews.com.
