TodayStudents' character boosts United Way
Print
Share
Email to a friend
Add This
Article RatingImages
Crestview Elementary School fifth-graders Zach Ott and Lea Potteiger present a check for $500 to United Way campaign officials Wednesday during United Way's kickoff campaign on Carlisle Square. Principal Jim Burgess stands beside the students. (Jason Minick/The Sentinel)
Chart shows where the campaign stands. (Chad Smith/The Sentinel)
Crestview Elementary School students are showing the community that every little bit really does help when it comes to giving.
Fifth-graders Lea Potteiger and Zach Ott presented the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County with a $500 check Wednesday during the organization's day of events to launch the 2004 community campaign.
"I feel privileged that I can do something for the United Way," said 10-year-old Lea.
The 450 Crestview students in grades K-5 are collecting "character tickets" throughout the school year. Each ticket is worth 10 cents that will be donated to the United Way on behalf of the students by the school's parent-teacher organization.
"We wanted to start a program where we could catch our kids in good behavior," school Principal Jim Burgess said.
Paid in advance
All adult staffers in the school have tickets they give to students displaying the characteristics of caring, citizenship, responsibility, respect and trustworthiness.
"Just the other day our whole class was in art," Lea said. "We were following what the teacher said and we earned character tickets and a Jolly Rancher."
Zach said he earned a ticket for helping to clean up a spill in the cafeteria.
The "character tickets for charity" program at Crestview is in its fourth year, Burgess said.
Every year the school has set a goal of donating $500 to the United Way through children's good behavior and every year students have come up with the necessary 5,000 tickets.
"This year we paid up front and the kids have to pay off the debt with their tickets," Burgess said.
The PTO will donate more money to the United Way for every ticket collected over 5,000.
Zach and Lea have earned two tickets apiece so far.
"That makes me feel proud and successful that I helped people," Lea said.
"It makes me feel better about myself," Zach added.
The students said their classmates understand earning tickets helps the United Way organization and "people who have disabled problems or people who have problems with their families."
"These kids set a great example," campaign co-chairman Dan Monken said.
"Even the youngest can have an impact on the community by working collectively," United Way Executive Director Jeff Conway said.
12 percent pledged
Crestview students presented their check at the Dickinson College-sponsored lunch on the Square Wednesday. The free food was intended to encourage contributions and awareness of the United Way campaign.
Earlier Wednesday the United Way announced it already has pledges totalling $184,589 or 12 percent of the $1,525,000 target.
"It's a great start," campaign co-chairman Skip Ebert said. "But we have a long way to go."
"Most of us in this community are fortunate for what we have," Monken said. Contributing to the United Way "is just one way that we can be thankful for all the blessings we have."
Every year the United Way runs a capital campaign to raise funds for 25 local nonprofit agencies.
Most large employers and many smaller employers participate in the community campaign, asking for employee contributions, Conway said.
Solicitations for donations also have been mailed to area retirees. For more information or to inquire about making a contribution, call the United Way at 243-4805.
