Pasta for Pennies is a fund-raising effort sponsored by Olive Garden and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Key Club sponsor Alex Nelle, world history teacher, said Pasta for Pennies isn’t replacing another fundraiser. Key Club officers came up with the idea to take over the fundraiser.
“The Community Service class usually does Pasta for Pennies,” Nelle said. “But there isn’t a Community Service class this semester.”
Nelle said students had two ways to donate: by donating spare change to Pasta for Pennies during their fifth hour class or during lunch to the principal competition, where the principal with the most money in their box would get a pie in their face.
Emily Kaempfe, vice president of Key Club, said the program is good because it just asked for spare change, and because it benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.
Nelle said altogether the fundraiser raised just over $1,500.
“I’m happy with [the results],” Nelle said. “Getting $1,500 in a week, with not all rooms being able to participate, I’m happy with that. And all the money goes to charity.”
Karen Corbett, AP Lang teacher, said she liked the fundraiser and that her class collected around $105.
“Mr. Nelle does a wonderful job organizing altruistic activities for students,” Corbett said. “I am in an altruistic sorority that gives scholarships to students who pursue the field of education. I like to donate to causes that are worthwhile.”
The final $1,500 came from both the principal competition, and the classroom competition.
Katie Held, practical arts teacher, had the winning classroom, with her class raising $275.93. Second place belonged to Amy Doyle, social studies teacher, and third place went to Maria Oliver, language arts teacher.
Karisa Thelen, junior in Corbett’s fifth hour class, said she liked the fundraiser because it helps kids who have Leukemia and Lymphoma.
“Students got really involved,” Thelen said. “Especially with the principal ‘pie in the face’ competition.”
There was a tie in the principal competition between Dr. Sebold and Dr. Mathison.
Nelle said both principals will have pies thrown in their faces on Thursday, March 10, during Trivia Thursday,.
All proceeds from Pasta for Pennies went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the winning class, Held’s fifth hour, won a free lunch from Olive Garden.