Million Pennies for Haiti Project Completed
May 12, 2010
Pennies turned into $10,000 real dollars today. Saint Patrick's Principal, Steven Hammond, called them, “Pennies From Heaven!” The 400 students from St. Patrick Catholic School in Norfolk, VA formed a heart-shaped bucket brigade to load the final bags of pennies onto the Loomis Security Truck as the penny project came to a close. It was sort of the same way they all joined together and pitched in to collect the 1,000,000 pennies over the last 14 months. Some students asked for pennies instead of birthday presents and some did chores to earn the pennies. The school also conducted several fund raisers.
In the middle of the penny campaign, Haiti was struck by an earthquake and the need grew even greater. St. Gabriel Parish in Port-au-Prince will receive $5,000 and Maison Fortune Orphanage in Hinche, Hiati will also receive $5,000. Principal, Steven Hammond said, “that it was in giving that we receive. I can speak on behalf of the children, faculty, staff and the Board of Directors that we have received so much more than we have given to those good people in Haiti.” Everyone is grateful to Monarch Bank who handled the accounting for the pennies.
June 25, 2009
Today the Foundation received a check for $6,333.53 from St. Patrick Catholic School. It is from the fund raising described above. The funds are being earmarked as follows: $3,300 will be for 45 bicycles that are on their way to the orphanage via a sea container. These bicycles are to be used for high school students at the orphanage to go the over two miles to school each day and then back again. The other $3,000 has been earmarked to pay for 10 bunks and mattresses which are needed at this time.
St. Patrick's Undertakes collection of 1,000,000 pennies for Haiti