Penny Harvesters Rock the Vote on Election Day: Common Cents: Penny Harvest, volunteer opportunities for students, school volunteer projects, community service for children students youth, youth volunteer opportunities, youth philanthropy, school children, student volunteers, volunteering, not-for-profit, non-profit, money raising, fund raising, fundraising, New York City

Common Cents Mission: Common Cents, creator of the Penny Harvest, nurtures a new generation of caring and capable young people between the ages of four and 24 by enabling them to strengthen their communities through philanthropy and service-learning.

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PENNY HARVESTERS ROCK THE VOTE ON ELECTION DAY

November 7, 2008

Common Cents was encouraged to see that according to national exit polls and early projections conducted by CIRCLE an estimated 22-24 million young Americans under that age of 30 voted in the November 4th election, up by at least 3.4 million votes compared with the election in 2004. These young voters made sure their voices and opinions were heard as they engaged in the democratic system, many voting for the first time.

Common Cents, through the Penny Harvest program, works to ensure the opinions and voices of young people (much younger than 18!) are heard every day. In participating Penny Harvest schools around the country, children from the ages of 4-14 take part in democratic decision-making and learn to be involved, informed, caring citizens well before they reach the voting age. Students gather pennies, and then use these funds to make grants and take action on issues that matter the most to them.

Election Day this year proved the perfect opportunity for many Penny Harvesters to engage their community members in donating their pennies in support of youth grant making and service. As voters showed up in record numbers to cast their ballots, Penny Harvesters joined them there to encourage voters to donate pennies for student directed charity.

Penny Harvest Coach Debbie Marks helped her students at W.T. Clarke Middle School in Westbury, Long Island get the word out on Election Day. As voters streamed into the school, Marks and her students set up a table near the polling place to explain the Penny Harvest program to community residents and ask them for their support.

“The students collected more than $220, but more important was the experience our middle school students had in expressing themselves and connecting with people from all backgrounds and ages,” said Marks.

Even before they are old enough to vote, Penny Harvesters are already making their mark on country and community.

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