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Bridgeport students collect 105,066 pennies

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 9:35 PM Thursday, January 21, 2010

HAMILTON — Bridgeport Elementary students recently learned that it’s possible to raise a substantial amount of money a penny at a time.

“The students began this Pennies for Peace campaign on International Peace Day on Sept. 21,” said second grade teacher Patty Stone. “The students had hoped to raise $800, which would roughly represent each child earning a penny a day from September to December.”

But that turned out to be small thinking.

“Many teachers offered pennies as teaching incentives instead of stickers or other treats,” Stone said, “and the students opted to earn pennies for the peace jar rather than stickers for themselves.”

The entire Bridgeport school community contributed towards this effort, she said, as parents dropped pennies in a jar in the office, and one student collected Pennies for Peace at his family’s garage sale.

“Lebanon Citizen’s National Bank graciously counted the many jars of pennies each week with their coin counter,” Stone added.

Just before taking their holiday break, the students presented a check for $1,050.66 to Terri Fitton, Bridgeport Elementary principal, to forward to Pennies for Peace.

“It is empowering for the students to see how much difference a penny can make with patience and perseverance,” Fitton said. “The students truly earned pennies for this project.”

The Pennies for Peace program was started by Greg Mortensen, author of the award winning book, “Three Cups of Tea,” and helps fund educational programs for poor children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. To learn more, visit www.penniesforpeace.org.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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