BREWSTER – Never underestimate the power of five-, six- and seven-year-olds.
Students at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Brewster participated in the Kids Heart Challenge and raised $12,378 for the American Heart Association. In the process, students learned about their hearts and how to keep them healthy while experiencing fun by having the opportunity to “pie” the school’s physical education instructors.
Physical education teachers Jennifer Purcell and Eric Buzzetto, along with student teacher Thomas Kress, each got multiple pies in the face but they kept on smiling.
“It was a great way to thank the students and staff and have fun,” said Purcell.
JFK School Principal Frank Zamperlin described the fundraiser as an “amazing accomplishment that shows even the youngest children in the district can have a great impact in supporting research and giving assistance to those with heart conditions.”
When asked why they did it, students were unanimous in their responses: To help others in need.
Grace Curley said, “I wanted to help kids who have sick hearts,” while Jack Pavelitch, noted, “To help others.”
Over the past nine years, children at the school have raised an amazing $156,540.
Cara Donohoe from the American Heart Association attended this year’s event commending the student body for “putting their hearts into the cause and keeping the tradition really special.”
