FUND-RAISOR: Bridgepoint students raise money for Haiti relief

Related Photos

Staff photo by C.E. Branham

Discussion

February 4, 2010

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Thu Feb 04, 2010, 10:59 PM EST

Nine-year-old Abigale Patrick broke down in tears as she tried to talk about Haiti and what she did to help earthquake victims there.

In the midst of sobbing, she explained that she did chores around her home to make 75 cents — all of which she donated to her school, Bridgepoint Elementary, which took up a collection all last week.

She wanted to do more. Then she found out about a classmate, Dylan Raisor, who got $170 for his birthday, including a $100 bill from an aunt. the first time he’s come out and said he wanted to give.

“It was his money and he wanted to decide what to use it for.”

“I got rid of the $100 bill,” 9-year-old Dylan said. “Mostly because the poor people, they have a lot of homeless people and they don’t have food and we have a lot more than they do and I’ve heard they don’t seem so healthy and they seem to be hurt.”

He said he doesn’t regret his decision one bit.

With his donation, his classroom ended up raising $212, according to his teacher, Stephanie Black. The entire school collected more than $1,300, with about $800 of that in coins, she said.

“I was just so proud of him that he was wanting to help,” Black said. “He shows that in the classroom, too. He’s very kind. He wants to help me and other students all the time.”

For raising the most in the school, Black’s class got to have a cupcake party. However, she said that’s not what made the students want to raise the funds, and they agreed.

“I’m happy everyone brought in money for Haiti,” Patrick said. “I brought in a little bit of money, but [Dylan] brought in a lot, so that does a lot more.”

Emma Ellis, 8, said she wished she had money saved up from her last birthday, which was in May, to donate. So, she asked her mom for help.

“I think that it’s going to be very nice, because they can get lots of food and hopefully shelter with the money we donated,” she said.

Black said the earthquake in Haiti — which has killed 200,000 — became a week-long lesson to students about what happened there and what earthquakes are. She said the money collection also served as a good math lesson.

With the school’s collection complete, Dylan has made plans for the remaining $70 from his birthday money.

“I’m going to spend my 70 bucks on a new bike!” he exclaimed with a wide grin.

SO YOU KNOW

• The death toll from the Haiti earthquake has surpassed 200,000 according to several media reports. It’s believed close to a half-million people have fled the capital, Port-au-Prince.