School fund-raising efforts raise money for Haiti earthquake victims

From press release

Rockford Public School District 205 students are reaching into their pockets and reaching out to Haiti’s earthquake victims.

Tanner Leuellen, a third-grader at Maria Montessori Elementary School, was so compelled to join the international relief efforts that he started a fund-raising campaign called “Hearts for Haiti,” in which he hopes to raise $100 for the Red Cross.

Leuellen is selling 50 individually designed hearts he created for 50 cents each.

Montessori Principal Sue Haney-Bauer said Leuellen’s ambitious efforts are being extremely well-received by both students and parents.

In addition to other efforts by District 205 students, Lathrop Elementary School students are collecting “Quarters for the Quake” through Friday, Jan. 29. Principal Prudy Court said student council members wanted to help Haiti with as much money as possible, so they are urging classmates to all take at least one quarter for a Haiti relief collection. If everyone at the school contributes, the total will top $100.