Community Corner

Valley Road School Raises $10K For Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

"VRS Idol" was one of the school's many fundraisers for the cause.

Valley Road School in Clark took fourth place in the state in the Pennies for Patients fundraiser to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

In the past four years, Valley Road School has raised more than $20,000 for the cause, this year adding $10,080.76 to their total. As a result, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is bringing the game "Dance, Dance Revolution" to the school as a thank you. Last year, out of 900 schools in New Jersey, Valley Road School’s fundraising efforts were sixth in the state.

Valley Road School held several different activities to raise the funds. Clark's Windsor Diner donated 10 percent of their profits from one day's checks. There was a Friday Fun Night at school where students could do crafts, watch a movie, play Wii dance games and sing karaoke. The students also had several fundraisers during school, including Hats off to Cancer, Adult Dress-up Day, and Team Up Against Leukemia.

Find out what's happening in Clark-Garwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year, the newest and most successful event was Valley Road School’s first ever Read-a-Thon. Students asked family members and friends to make pledges for the amount of pages they could read in a half hour. Then in school, the entire student body sat and read silently or was read a story by a teacher. Students collected pledge donations totaling more than $5,000. 

Last year, the school launched VRS Idol, a talent show where students sing, dance, and showed off other talents. “The best part about this event was seeing how supportive all of the students were of each other," said Kristina Spirito, a fifth grade teacher and co-advisor for Student Council. "They came together, forgot that they were competing, and really had a great time." The winner was the youngest competitor in the competition, Joe Walsh, a kindergartener, who sang "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. The show raised more than $1,000 to add to the school's total.

Find out what's happening in Clark-Garwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For information regarding local programs and services of the  New Jersey Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or to make a donation, please call (908) 956-6644 or visit www.LLS.org/nj. 


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