Elms school leads way in support for research

JACKSON - Nearly $24,000 has been collected by The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation following the recent "Quarters for the Cure" campaign, which had students collect pocket change to support cancer research, patient care, education and community outreach at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick.

The effort - which concluded just prior to the end of the 2006-07 school year in 27 elementary, middle and high schools in 12 counties throughout the state - featured various fundraising activities to fill five-gallon water jugs with quarters.

This included teachers matching coins the students brought in from home, youngsters selling paper flowers, teachers and faculty paying to wear jeans on Fridays, a flag football tournament, a bowl-a-thon, bake sales and friendly competitions between classes and grades.

The top fundraiser was Jackson's Elms Elementary School, which raised $3,123. All of the first grade classes participated in honor of a classmate who died of cancer in March.

Natalie DiPietrantonio, who coordinated the drive at the school, was the girl's teacher and said her pupil was a bright young lady who was very brave. And while it was DiPietrantonio who tutored the girl at home when she was ill, it was the student who gave the lesson: "She never complained and always had a smile on her face. She has taught us all to appreciate life. The first grade classes would like it if you could keep her in your thoughts as this money is used to fight cancer," said DiPietrantonio.

Representatives of the foundation visited the Elms Elementary School to present a certificate of appreciation and to thank the students for their hard work and generosity.

Michelle Walker, Director of Annual Giving for the foundation, said of all the students, "The heartwarming notes we received from teachers shows that these children, regardless of their age, believe they can make a difference and used this determination and generous attitude to help those touched by cancer."