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2011 Penny Pick-up, Check back every day to see the pennies add up!
Check out some video reflections on our blog from the Penny Harvest at PS 163!
Stay tuned for more on the Second Annual Penny Harvest Run for Change! on April 29, 2012!
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Home > First Annual Penny Harvest Run for Change a success!
May 2, 2011
On Saturday, April 30th, the first annual Penny Harvest Run for Change! kicked off with a day along Hudson River Park of honoring youth service as New York City students, teachers and supporters of Common Cents turned up in what has, in only twenty years, become the largest child philanthropy program in the country which emphasizes service-learning through school communities. Since 1991, Penny Harvest students have contributed $8.6 million to improve their neighborhoods in areas of health, environment, human rights, disaster relief, children and the elderly.
This year, hundreds of student leaders dressed proudly in green and armed with colorful handmade posters and banners, were sighted running, walking and skipping down the Hudson River Greenway towards Stuyvesant High School, where the event culminated in a Global Relief Conference for the recovery of Japan. These students caught the attention of many early walkers and runners who stopped to watch the many youth who made the early morning trip as far as from the Bronx and Staten Island.
Over 166 Penny Harvest schools contributed to the Global Relief Fund for Japan—amounting to $30,340.23 and an additional 5% of the Run for Change! proceeds were donated to further these student leaders’ efforts. The generosity of NYC inner-city students captured the attention of Moms United for Japan and NYC’s Japanese community. They organized an authentic Japanese lunch for students, many of whom would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture. Japanese graffiti artist PESU was inspired by the community outreach of Penny Harvest student leaders and painted an ineffably beautiful Koi painting on-site to thank them. Also, Ashinaga, one of the three grant recipients of the Global Relief Fund, flew in from Tokyo and Uganda to accept the donation.
Supporters of Common Cents like Diahann Billing-Burford, Chief NYC Service Officer made it a point to compliment Penny Harvest students for their hard work, “The impact that Penny Harvest students have on their communities is priceless. They are the future leaders of New York City and should be commended as so.”
Good news for those who didn’t get a chance to attend or support a school! The Penny Harvest Run for Change! website will still be active for another week of fundraising. It’s still not too late to be part of the movement.
Click here to see the photo gallery from the Run for Change!
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