Earlier this year, Bay Area elementary schools took part in our School & Youth program, in which students are given the opportunity to experience the powerful feeling that comes from working together to help others. Schools raise awareness and funds in support of the LLS mission. Of course, we wanted to add a twist of fun to help save lives, so the ‘Kiss a Pig’ challenge was a perfect fit.
‘Kiss a Pig’ Challenge
- Foothill Elementary, Principal Joe Bosco kissing a piglet after being dunked in the dunk tack by fellow teachers and students.
Schools such as Cedar Grove Elementary in San Jose, Almond Elementary in Los Altos, and Foothill Elementary in Saratoga all took on the challenge of raising $5,000 PLUS 20% over what they raised the prior year for the program. When they reached their goal, we would visit the school and bring along a friendly farm animal. Students and staff gathered at assemblies to their principal pucker up for their new piggy friends. Cedar Grove Elementary Principal, Dr. Bob Pruitt, actually kissed a goat, while Almond Elementary Principal kissed Pepper the Pig. At Foothill Elementary, Principal Joe Bosco kissed a piglet, and was then dunked in a dunk tank by various teachers, students, and parents.
Almond Elementary Principal kissing Pepper the Pig
In order to reach their goal, schools participate in Pennies for Patients, a three week-long program where students collect change to raise funds to support the LLS mission. Schools have also done “Fool for a Day”, in which teachers promise to do silly things (wear a prom dress to school, dye their hair, etc.) if their classroom reaches a certain total. Teachers have also volunteered to be pied, dunked, duct-taped to walls… the possibilities are endless!
Along with raising funds for LLS, students are also raising money in honor of a few very brave students going through the hardships of cancer. One of these honorees, Matthew from Crestmoor Elementary in San Bruno, was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma at the age of five and is currently in remission.
Super Star Schools
We would like to recognize and thank the following schools for their efforts in participating and supporting the School & Youth program:
-Almond Elementary School (Los Altos): $7,149.30
-Easterbrook Discovery Elementary School (San Jose): $7,315.34
-Foothill Elementary School (Saratoga): $7,447.84
-Louis E Stocklmeir School (Sunnyvale): $8,257.92
-West Valley Elementary School (Sunnyvale): $8,902.22
For more information about this amazing program, email Melisse.Skelton@lls.org or call 408.490.3116.
