After a long month and a half of fundraising efforts, WJ’s Pennies for Patients campaign is at an end.
The final total amount raised to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) was $52,331.77, about $33,000 short of the school’s goal of $85,000.
Though the school did not reach its fundraising goal, SGA President and senior Bobby Ellett said he is very proud of what the school accomplished.
“I would consider [raising $50,000] a huge success because we raised tens of thousands of dollars to help fight cancer,” said Ellett. “Over the years, WJ has accumulated a grand total of over $300,000 for the cause and this year we raised $18,000 online, which is the largest in history of any school to my knowledge.”
The so-called “Road to 85k” was a long one this year as the fundraising, which usually only takes place during February, was extended until mid-March due to repeated snow days that impacted schools’ fundraising efforts all over the nation.
The snow disrupted fundraising efforts, according to senior Quentin Auster, a member of the Leadership class, causing various events to be postponed, including the Carnival. It was a challenge to continually adjust advertising to let students know about the snow related changes.
“It helped, but kind of marginally,” said Auster, of the several week long extension to make up for days missed because of the snow. “It’s tough when things are planned and get thrown off.”
Ellett agreed that the snow was an unexpected challenge.
“It was good that we had the opportunity to keep raising money for an even longer period of time to increase the total,” said Ellett, “but at the same time to continue for such a long time is incredibly taxing on the student body and the school and the community. I know the first few weeks, the momentum was crazy [and] everyone was super excited. I know a little bit of that tends to get lost when you drag things on like that.”
In 2011, WJ earned more money in their fundraising efforts than any other school in the nation, and last year WJ earned the second greatest amount of funds among participating schools in the country, raising $81,474 and coming second only to Whitman who raised $91,761, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma’s School Program’s website. WJ also raised about $50,000 more than last year’s third place school located in Ohio, which only raised about $31,000.
“It’s always tough,” said Auster about living up to high expectations after the last few years which Auster called “exceptional.”
In the end, though, Auster said he was happy with the results of the campaign.
“Again, to raise such a large amount, you can’t really knock the end result,” said Auster, “There’s only so much time and so much money people are willing to give.”
Ellett agreed that the school’s legacy of fundraising efforts definitely had an impact on this year’s campaign.
“It’s just really inspiring that WJ has had such a long standing history of dedication to this cause and it’s great to be a part of it and continue this tradition,” said Ellett.
This year’s campaign included annual events such as Glo, Pong for Pennies for Patients, and Burrito Mile, but also included newer events like the WJ Bachelors Auction and the student-staff basketball game. The school also auctioned off a pair of running spikes signed by the “fastest man in the world,” Usain Bolt, at the Carnival.
Each event contributed to the efforts but Glo ended up bringing in the most money, approximately $10,000 according to Ellett.
Auster said, Glo, the event he and a committee of Leadership students helped plan, was his favorite event.
“It seemed like a pretty big success,” Auster said. “It was definitely stressful setting up but it seemed like everyone had fun.”
Being a part of the planning process brought new perspective to the Pennies for Patients campaign for Leadership students.
“You see how much work goes into it,” said Auster,citing the two months of planning that take place before February. “Every event that goes on someone had to conceptualize, present to the [Leadership] class, and go through the red tape of administration.”
Ellett agreed that taking on a leadership role was different than just being a participant.
“I remember my freshman year I would see the leadership kids walking around the halls with those water jugs to collect money,” said Ellett, “It’s cool to think that now this year I got to be one of those kids. [Being a part of the planning process] makes you appreciate even more, I think, the effort that goes into [the campaign] and how amazing it is what WJ is doing. It’s been cool to be one of the students who helps promote these events educate people about the cause. It’s great to be able give back and contribute on a bigger scale.”
In the last 16 years, the LLS’s youth fundraising initiatives including Pennies for Patients and others have raised over $223 million dollars to help fund breakthrough therapies and patient services.
According to the LLS youth program website, the LLS “uses the money you raise to fund scientific research for drugs that help some patients live a normal life. Drugs like Gleevec, a targeted therapy, zeros in on cancer cells and kills them. You will also be helping LLS research and develop immunotherapies – treatments that actually use a patient’s own immune system to kill cancer cells. And that’s just for starters. There are more drugs and treatments being developed today and others just waiting to be discovered through the efforts of [students’] participation.”
The LLS’s website also writes that students around the country not only enjoy participating in Pennies for Patients, but can feel a great sense of pride in helping others through the program. Their efforts will gain the gratitude of blood cancer patients everywhere, according to the organization.
“It’s so important what we’re doing,” said Ellett, “raising money to help fight cancer. It goes toward research toward helping patients – even directly in our own community there’s a great number of people who have been affected by these diseases and it’s great that our community can rally around this cause.”
