Calling All Heart Heroes at Jefferson
The youngsters at Jefferson Primary School on Oakwood Road are indefatigable when it comes to raising funds for the American Heart Association. In the last six years alone, students have collected over $55,750 through the Jump Rope for Heart program.
"It's become a yearly tradition at Jefferson" said Karen Fischer, a physical education teacher at Jefferson who annually coordinates the program at the school. The event was held on two recent mornings, with kindergarten, first and second graders participating one day and third and fourth graders on another.
This year's event saw over 250 Jefferson students involved. The kids seemed to relish the activities and moved enthusiastically from station-to-station as "jumping music" blared from the sound system.
Proponents claim that Jump Rope for Heart is a valuable program that promotes physical activity, heart healthy living, and community service to children. Its main goal is to teach participants a healthy life style.
"This event is near and dear to my heart," Fischer said. "I love the energy that the Jefferson community exhibits; whether they jumped, watched, helped with counting the money; all of the students, staff and parents pitched in for a good cause."
The students are not the only ones at Jefferson who are heart heroes. The faculty and staff designated the February contributions from their "Jeans for a Cause" program to be donated to the American Heart Association.
Jeans for a Cause is led by teacher Pattye Sweeney, who collects a donation of $5 or more teachers and para-professionals who then wear jeans on "payday Fridays." To raise awareness of the sobering fact that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, the American Heart Association created "Go Red for Women" - a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
As part of "Go Red for Women" and to coincide with the Jump Rope for Heart program, each staff member wore red and the American Heart Association red dress pin as a symbol of women and heart disease.
"The generosity shown by the money raised during Jeans for a Cause proves that the Jefferson staff surely has a heart," Ms. Sweeney said.
With each jump and each pair of jeans donned, students and staff at Jefferson delight in being heart heroes by participating in the American Heart Association programs. The AHA will use Jefferson's donations to support awareness, fund research and provide educational programs that will benefit both children and adults.