Marple Newtown Sophomores Hope to Save the Children With Their $2,600 Donation

NEWTOWN SQUARE–The sophomore class held its annual Project 10 charity event last Thursday on June 2 to help save the lives of children. 

Liz Landes, a biology and environmental science teacher at the high school, started the Project 10 charity event several years ago with another teacher Christine Ray.

"I think we wanted to do something for the sophomores," shared Landes. "Sophomore year seemed to be like a forgotten year and we wanted to do something special with the class that involved some kind of a service or giving back charity walk-a-thon."

This year marks the fourth successful Project 10 completed by the high school's sophomores. Each year, the class chooses a charity brought up by one of the five members of Project 10's leadership team. This year's event was dedicated to Save the Children, an organization dedicated to saving the lives of children and communities when disaster strikes through food, medicine and long-lasting programs. 

"We want them to think about how other people live in the world and value what they have, and how they can help others in this world," said Landes.

Overall, the sophomores raised $2,614.26 for the charity. Each student was required to donate a minimum of $20 in which $10 will go directly to the charity and the other $10 will go towards the day's activities, which included a pizza lunch with pretzels, carnival games and moon bounces, as well as the T-shirts designed by fellow student Sue Son. 

According to Landes, the students were requested to have supporters sponsor a lap in which the suggestion was $1 per lap and each student were to walk at least 10 laps around the school's track on the football field.

Sophomore Will Downey is one of Project 10's leaders and was the highest contributing fundraisers toward the charity event. Downey raised $145. He told Patch he simply enjoyed leading the class in the charitable initiative which would help children worldwide.

"You can really help kids who need help," reflected Downey. "Even just raising money like we did, it's probably one of the best things we can do to help them."

Cat Rainone said she enjoyed being one of the leaders for the project because she was able to not only promote student unity but also bring awareness.

"My goal was to inspire others to go on from this one project and branch off to do their own or even start their own charity," said Rainone. "As kids who live and go to school in Marple Newtown... they don't understand how good they have it. Even though we complain about our school, we're not being forced to go to war, our building isn't collapsing... we're still able to attend school."

According to Landes, the goal for this year was to raise $2,000. The sophomores surpassed that goal and will be able to support children in the United State and beyond in need.