Greg Mortenson

Penny by penny, Lindbergh Elementary School students raised nearly $500 to help schoolchildren in Pakistan.

Kate Reich, who teaches second and third grade and organized the fundraiser, said she learned from kindergartners that some of the best places to find pennies are in the creases of furniture and in the parking lot of ShopKo.

“Just by finding things that you can find almost anywhere that most people think are worthless can help people in far away countries,” third-grader Molly Najdowski said.

When the students raised $485, the manager at AnchorBank on Sherman Avenue tossed in $15 to make it an even $500. Then staff members at Lindbergh kicked in another $218.

The school – where about 73 percent of the 225 students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch – brought in the pennies to help the Central Asia Institute in its efforts to support education in Pakistan, especially for girls. Through the effort called Pennies for Peace, the money raised by Lindbergh can pay a teacher’s salary for one year and buy supplies for at least five students.

The school celebrated with a recent assembly where the total was announced. Students sang songs with themes such as peace and friendship they learned under music teacher Ken Stancer. Walls in the school were decorated with collages the students created in art classes taught by Charlotte Cummins. The artwork was created in the style of a book called “Listen to the Wind,” written by Greg Mortenson, who co-founded the Bozeman, Mont.-based Central Asia Institute.

Visitors to the school were served tea in honor of “Three Cups of Tea,” a New York Times bestselling book written by Mortenson and David Oliver Relin that describes how Mortenson started raising money for schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan after an impoverished Pakistani village nursed him back to health following a failed mountain climb.

Mortenson, who believes peace can be achieved through education, thinks a penny is something accessible by all children and points out that it is enough to buy a pencil.

“Anywhere you see a penny, just pick it up,” said third-grader Harold Willgrubs. “You’ll probably want to give it to Pennies for Peace. It’s a great opportunity.”

Third-grader Nina Andaverde said the fundraiser made her feel proud because she could help those who need a place to learn.

“We have some children (at Lindbergh) who are used to hardship but were astounded that kids had to study outside, in the dirt with sticks because they didn’t have pencil and paper,” said Reich, who taught her students about Pakistan, as did Lynn Scoby, another teacher at the school.

(c) Wisconsin State Journal 2009

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