KEKAHA — In a heartfelt gesture, 32 Kekaha School first graders raised $2,200. Joy Chisholm, one of the teachers, said the students raised the amount in the recent “Jump Rope for Heart” event where the students got donations from the
KEKAHA — In a heartfelt gesture, 32 Kekaha School first graders raised $2,200.
Joy Chisholm, one of the teachers, said the students raised the amount in the recent “Jump Rope for Heart” event where the students got donations from the community.
“We didn’t skip physical education class, but we did skip some rope during the ‘Jump Rope for Heart’ fund-raiser on Feb. 8,” Chisholm said in a prepared statement.
Cheryl Ann Farrell, the regional director for the American Heart Association, paid the school a visit during lunch yesterday to accept the contribution from first-grade student Brandie Aguinaldo, the top fund-raising student, and the school’s principal Jason Yoshida. Chisholm and Jessica Rivera, first-grade teachers, also represented the class in the presentation.
Farrell told the students their efforts are definitely appreciated by the American Heart Association, and hopes they continue to jump, not only to raise funds, but to stay healthy.
Chisholm said that Aguinaldo topped all of the first grade students in fund-raising with $300 being raised. Other notable efforts include those from Tiffany Bayundan and Jayden Taala, who raised $232 and $200, respectively.
Kevin Saligumba finished with a $171 contribution with Kaui Samio and Moani Felix-Keamoai raising $155 apiece.
“The students are looking forward to the arrival of their thank you gifts from the American Heart Association, but the real ‘thank you’ comes from the wonderful feeling of doing something that makes a difference in the community,” Chisholm said.
Farrell said the American Heart Association raises about $40,000 from the 11 Jump Rope for Heart events which are hosted by various schools on Kaua‘i, although she said not all the schools have turned in their contributions.
The Jump Rope for Heart is a national educational fund-raising program sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
This program engages elementary students in a physical activity such as jumping rope while raising funds to support life-saving heart and stroke research, Chisholm’s release states.
Students ask friends and family for donations and receive thank-you gifts based on the amount they raise.
According to the a prepared statement, the educational program teaches physical fitness and promotes the value of community service to students and their families. It also shows students that they can contribute to the community’s welfare.
Farrell said the next event on the American Heart Association’s calendar of events is the annual Heart Walk, a free informational family event, scheduled for April 26 at the Kilohana pavilion.
The health fair associated with the event will be set up and operate from 3 to 5 p.m. with the walk taking place at 4 p.m., Farrell said.
Following the walk, the American Heart Association will host a benefit concert at the pavilion which runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and feature Na Leo and Cindy Combs.
Tickets are $45 per person and are available at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
