Thanks to research, nearly 90% of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia are now cured. But the need for support research is still critical. Leukemia affects more children than any other cancer, so The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) School & YouthSM Programs provide a meaningful way for kids to help kids.
Each spring thousands of students across the country learn about the value of community service while raising money to help find cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Students spend three weeks during school year contributing their spare change and participating in other special fundraising events. The School & Youth programs also include special lesson plans that support service learning and character education within the classroom.
Across the United States and Canada more than 26,000 schools – 15 million students from kindergarten to high school – participated in the programs during the 2010-11 school year, raising approximately $25 million to help fund blood cancer research and patient services.
“It’s inspiring to see young people volunteer and really care about helping others,” said Joanne Davis, executive director of LLS Southern Florida Chapter. “It’s a program that is truly meaningful because kids learn that their efforts really make a difference.”
School & Youth Programs include:
- Pennies for Patients®: Value-building program for elementary and secondary schools. Students collect funds, starting with their own spare change, used to support the research and patient services programs of the Society. The program takes place during a three week period in February or March.
- Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies: Similar to Pennies for Patients, this program is sponsored by Olive Garden Restaurant. Students collect spare change, and the class raising the most money in each school receives a pasta party courtesy of Olive Garden. Olive Garden also hosts kickoff luncheons for representatives of participating schools in each city and provides marketing support and materials for the program.
- The Trish Greene Back to School Program for Children with Cancer helps children return to school and other activities once their treatments are over.
For more information on the School & Youth Programs, or to learn how to register your school, visit www.schoolandyouth.org, or contact Rhonda Siegel at 954-744-5313, Rhonda.siegel@lls.org or www.schoolandyouth.org/sfl