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DeLaveaga Elementary Kids Help Kids

De Laveaga Student Council Raisies over $1100 For Critically Ill Children

On Wednesday, March 27, a delegation of leaders from DeLaveaga Elementary School’s student council presented executives from the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford with an oversized check for $1,104.22. The money was raised by the newly formed student council, consisting of 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. The student council is led by 3rd Grade Teacher, Ms. Sheila French.

“This is the first year that our school has had a student council,” said Ms. French. “We wanted to make sure that, in addition to working on things like school spirit, we focused on helping others. The students voted and decided to raise money to help other children and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford was chosen as the charity to support.”

Through the month of February, the student-led fundraising campaign called “Coins for Change” collected spare change from students and their families in brightly decorated jugs. This initial leadership project culminated in a trip to Palo Alto where several of the De Laveaga student council members toured Ronald McDonald House at Stanford and presented their donation check to the House’s Chief Executive Officer Annette Eros.

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“We are grateful for the philanthropic efforts by these students at De Laveaga Elementary School, which exemplifies leadership within their school as well as throughout our community,” said Eros. “Their efforts have increased awareness about what we do at the House, and more importantly will directly benefit our families that are here to seek life-saving medical treatments for their critically-ill children.”

When the student council exceeded its initial goal of $500 by March 1st, they organized a school-wide “field day” to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment. This further enabled the group to show their leadership skills by organizing the event and running the games. 

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            Ms. French said, “I am so proud of our students.  Raising this much money for such a great cause really does show that children can effect change.”

 

About Ronald McDonald House at Stanford

Ronald McDonald House at Stanford is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to create a home-away-from-home and supportive community for families of children with life-threatening illnesses receiving specialized treatment at local hospitals. The House accommodates 47 families per night and features a communal kitchen and dining room, Children’s Activity Room, Teen Recreation Center, Computer Center, family library, and fitness center, in addition to a selection of program offerings that promote a sense of normalcy for each member of the family. Since 1979, the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford has made a huge impact in creating the community environment that supports these families in need. Together it all makes Ronald McDonald House at Stanford the place “where hope has a home.”

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