Students raise funds for counterparts in Pakistan
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PENNIES FROM HEAVEN- Willow Elementary School second-grade teacher Enid Stagg helps her students, from left, Sadie Emmitt and Serena Newmont count pennies on Tuesday. The class is supporting Pennies for Peace, a nonprofit group that helps build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A group of local elementary schools students took they money they were going to use for a Valentine's Day party and put it to work for charity, instead.

Enid Stagg's second grade class at Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills launched its Pennies for Peace charity drive with $44.08 that was previously earmarked for a festive party.

The students were inspired by the book, "Three Cups of Tea," in which author Greg Mortenson tells how he launched a charity, Pennies for Peace, to pay for new schools in poor areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan with leftover change.

The book is intended to show the children of America that they can make a positive impact on a global scale, "one penny at a time."

"I like that we're helping children have schools and supplies," said student Sadie Emmitt who, along with her mother, Brandie Rosen, introduced the idea to the class. "We have tons of pennies- all pennies," she said, adding that the class will continue to raise funds for the rest of the school year.

Pennies for Peace encourages children to embrace the organization's motto of promoting peace one school at a time.

For the students of Willow Elementary, forgoing the class Valentine's Day party was a nice first step.

Stagg students calculated that a party would cost $44.08 after food, candy, drinks and paper goods were purchased. The youngsters were happy their party money will be better spent on schools in an impoverished country, Staff said.

In Pakistan and Afghanistan, textbooks cost only pennies and an entire school can be built and operated for a nominal amount of money when compared to the United States. Pennies for Peace has so far funded the construction of 55 schools, Stagg said.

"The cool thing about this organization is that by collecting pennies, the kids really get an understanding of what they are working towards," Brandie Rosen said.

"In Afghanastan and Pakistan, a pencil costs a penny and a teacher earns $1 a day, so the kids can really understand where their money is going," Rosen said.

Students plan on saving their pennies for the rest of the year.

Stagg said her class doesn't have a specific monetary goal, but will collect the spare change in jars and see how much they raise before school lets out this summer.