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Schools

Crompond School Students of "Wishes for Japan"

Tying a Japanese tradition to a student-driven fundraiser.

Names: Members of Crompond School Student Government, Ryan Onatzevitch, and other Crompond students

Ages: 9 - 11

School: Crompond School

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Accomplishment: Fourth and fifth graders raised money to alleviate conditions of young victims of Japan earthquake and tsunami.  

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52 students with 800 sheets of ribboned origami paper were instrumental in raising more than $2,800 for Yorktown community’s contribution to the Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund of Save the Children.

The funds were raised by Crompond School’s student government members and other students who sold origami papers tied with ribbons ($1 each), on which donors wrote wishes for children in Japan. The venues for “Wishes for Japan” fundraising were in front of the A&P store in Yorktown during the last weekend of March and at Crompond School on Monday, April 4.

The students then hung origami wishes on trees around Crompond School, a la Japanese star festival, Tanabata, when people write wishes on small pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo.

Tying in this annual custom to Yorktown youngsters’ participation in relief efforts was initiated by Ryan Onatzevitch, a fourth grader at Crompond.

"My family and I wanted to do whatever we could to help,” Ryan said. “I remembered when we went to Japan we saw the Star Festival. The papers looked so colorful hanging in the trees. I thought selling them would be a good way to raise money. I hope we can help the people of Japan rebuild."

Under the organization of Stacey Cummings, a fifth grade teacher and student government advisor of Crompond School, the fundraiser was launched. The student government is composed of two representatives from each class.

“This was a student-driven endeavor,” Cummings said. "The students wanted to do something to help. The kids worked extremely hard and were very motivated to help.”

With continued support from Onatzevitch family, “Wishes for Japan” will be furthered at events such as Crompond’s Family Literacy Night on April 14.

“Children are often at a loss of what to do in the face of devastating events like the Japan earthquake,” said Ryan’s mother, Theresa Ryan-Onatzevitch. “We strongly feel that giving them a way to take action empowers them for life!”

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