With a little creativity and help from local businesses and organizations, students at Sandy Creek High raised $3,000 for Pennies for Patients, nearly sextupling the amount raised over the last two years.

Pennies for Patients is a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that helps children with blood cancers find resources and treatment, as well as provides research opportunities for a cure. The schools’ previous fundraiser efforts have netted a little less than $500.

Determined to raise this year’s amount, the school’s CARE (Children at Risk in Education) Team and the Patriot Ambassadors got involved and came up with a plan that generated more money than their set goal of $1,000. CARE Team member Jennifer Barber, a paraprofessional at Sandy Creek, coordinated the fundraiser effort.

"I thought we might get $1,000, but everyone had a focused effort to outdo what we'd done before," says Barber.

Prizes collected from local businesses and organizations were used in a drawing where for each 50-cent donation, a student received a ticket number. At the end of two-week fundraiser, numbers were drawn to determine winners for prizes that included MP3 players and gift certificates for food and shopping. Student Elena Dukes, a leukemia survivor and fundraiser volunteer, had the honor of drawing the winning tickets.

"Elena is a bright star at Sandy Creek," says counselor Tere Goodwin. "She bubbles over with enthusiasm for any worthwhile project and is eager to help others any way she can."

Olive Garden restaurant and Papa Johns Pizza are providing lunch for the top three classes that received the most tickets for donated money. Winning classrooms include those of Stefanie Moore, special education, Beth Sims, math and Edna Jimenez, foreign language.

Elena Dukes (center), a Leukemia survivor, drew the winning ticket numbers. Joining her is Errin Knight and Jennifer Barber. Photo/Special.

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