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Kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School learned that even pennies can have a positive impact in their community.
As a school, students raised $1,676.09 over a three-week period in February and donated the money to Game Plan 4 Hope in Hills.
In Penny War fundraising, students deposit pennies and paper money in their classroom’s collection box while sabotaging other boxes with silver coins.
Second-grade teachers Danielle Kneip and Renee Edmundson organized the event as part of the school’s monthly Lift Off assembly program. This year’s theme is “Soaring with Kindness.”
Each month, a grade level completes a special group activity.
Kneip and Edmondson chose to conduct the schoolwide Penny War for their February activity. Thoughts of Valentine’s Day were blended with lessons of kindness and hope by giving to a local organization.
“It was the most giving and moving event,” Edmundson said. “It was so cool.”
Students embraced the strategy of positive and negative points during the Penny War.
“So many of the kids took money out of their own piggy banks,” Kneip said, “or asked their grandparents (for paper money).”
Students in the classroom with the highest point total receive a prize — a can of silly string to spray on Principal Todd Holthaus during a special award assembly.
Security Savings Bank staff in Hills counted the pennies and unveiled results at the assembly.
Fourth-graders won the Penny War with 7,284 points. Fifth-graders finished with a point total of a negative 806 points.
“They (fifth grade) raised the most money but ended up in last place,” Edmundson said. “The fourth-graders just kind of got overlooked.”
Game Plan 4 Hope organizers Heather Erickson and Missy Bass received the check during a Feb. 28 presentation.
“We were so amazed at the excitement and passion the students put into this fundraiser,” Erickson said.
“Since both of our sons, Trenton and Ethan, were students at H-BC Elementary, it held a special place in our hearts to see them want to help others. Our vision for Game Plan 4 Hope were that our sons’ stories would inspire others to reach out and give hope and support when people are in need.”
Trenton Bass, at the time a high school senior at H-BC, was injured during a football game in 2017, leaving him a quadriplegic.
Ethan Erickson died from leukemia at age 12 in 2019.
Together the families formed the nonprofit organization, Game Plan 4 Hope, as a way to support families who are in despair following a life-changing event.
The group focuses on directional, spiritual, emotional, as well as physical needs.
The money raised by the elementary students will purchase comfort items given to patients and their families while going through treatment or spending time in the hospital.
At the assembly, Erickson and Bass told their sons’ stories and the mission behind Game Plan 4 Hope.
They left the elementary students and staff with an important message.
“I wanted them to know how sharing some of their earnings will make a difference in the lives of others,” Erickson said.
“Giving can be so rewarding, and I could see the pride on those faces.”