A Penny Saved May Be a Life Saved

Students in Pottstown Middle School's Sophisticated Ladies and Distinguished Gentlemen's Club collected change and raised more than $1,000 to fight leukemia and lymphoma.

Blogger's Note: Once again, John Armato provides information about positive things happening in Pottstown schools.

Students at Pottstown Middle School are helping to prove that every penny can make a difference in the fight against Leukemia. 

 During the month of March, the students of the Sophisticated Ladies and Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club, with the assistance of sponsors Terry Niemann and Leslie Smoyer, conducted a school-wide campaign to collect change from their fellow students. 

During the three week period, pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters were counted and at the end of the month the students of Pottstown Middle School had raised $1,055.40 which was donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Principal Gail Cooper said, “I am so proud of this group of students who inspired the entire school to participate in a drive and the results of their efforts not only will help cure a terrible disease but has also reinforced the lifelong lesson of paying it forward.”

Sophisticated Ladies and Distinguished Gentlemen in the club are provided the opportunities to build positive healthy relationships with peers/mentors and discuss hot topics that are focused on adolescent development. 

These students engage in leadership activities at school, in the district as well as citizenship service projects in the community. 

Members of the club include: Jeremy Adams, Giovany Arroyo, Ashley Daniels, Giuliano Deleo, Brenda Dempsey, James Diamond, Syncere Dyches, Xaria Fatal, Madison Jordan, Kyle Taylor and Anthony Wiggins.

The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. 

One interesting thing the students learned was that the survival rates have doubled, tripled, and even quadrupled for blood cancer patients because of the fundraising efforts of donors to the Pennies for Patients program. Club members were excited that they were able to help families in need.