Renner Middle School raises $10,000

Each year, the National Junior Honor Society at Renner Middle School selects a fundraiser benefitting our community. In past years, fundraising totals have ranged from $700-$2,000, but this year, led by the NJHS Fundraising Chairman Katherine Kabel, President Noah Schochet and Renner’s NJHS sponsors Jenny Scott and Grace Jones, Renner soared to new heights when they teamed up with the Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies program and raised a whopping $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Since 1994, LLS has raised $53 million to support the fight against blood-related cancers and help fund important life-saving initiatives. Out of 50 new blood cancer drugs approved by the FDA this year, 22 of them were sponsored by the LLS.

In three weeks, PowerPoints were created, announcements made, emails sent, and posters were put up in a flurry of excitement. Students were encouraged to bring in their spare change to raise money. From Feb. 4-22, Renner’s halls were filled with enthusiasm, energy and compassion. The school collected money through advisory classes, counting every class’s weekly totals. At the end of each week, the top two classes earned LLS wristbands that they proudly wore as “bragging rights” for that week.

In the first week alone, the students surpassed their initial goal of $3,000. At the end of the fundraiser, Mrs. Haag’s eighth-grade advisory had raised the most money and was rewarded with a lunch catered by the Olive Garden. With the school’s grand total of more than $10,000, Renner is now one of the top 50 national fundraising schools for the LLS.

“It wasn’t the doing of any one individual, but the joint effort of all the students and staff working together,” said Schochet.

The students’ enthusiasm was matched by that of the staff. Teachers did everything in their power to meet their class goals. They offered to dye their hair pink, donated their own money, and got students excited about donating by stirring up competition. Renner principal Bill McLaughlin even agreed to take a pie to the face from the winning class if the school met its fundraising goal. Soon the kids focused on raising money for an important cause -- helping kids like them who were suffering from cancer. The luncheon prize from the Olive Garden and the other rewards were just a bonus.

Kabel summed it up for everyone.

“Raising money to fight cancer has been a big journey for all of us. We are so grateful to all of the students, parents, and staff for all of their outstanding contributions," Kabel said. "The students at Renner Middle School left this project with a life-altering lesson: when you give your time and talents to someone else, you walk away with a lot more that you gave. Together we have made a big difference in not only our community, but also in many lives.”

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