By NANCY HILER
They completed a three-year goal to collect a million pennies - that's $10,000 - and donated the pennies to 1 in 9: the Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition and to Hewlett House, a support center for breast cancer victims.
Three years ago, the students, who are now alumni, were inspired to collect the pennies because "they were in awe of the million dollars raised during the Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach," said Sue Kahn-Wolk, a sixth-grade teacher and moderator of the school's Student Council, which started the fund-raiser.
"We can't even fathom a million anything," she said the students told her during that "magical moment in class" when they set their sights on raising a million pennies.
The Martin Avenue students held many fund-raisers over the years, including a "Playing for Pennies" field day, a "March Madness" basketball game and an auction. They also appealed to local vendors for assistance, which resulted in more than 20 Bellmore Village Merchants setting out collection jars in local stores and contributing themselves.
The students even made a public service announcement on radio to publicize their cause. Many others who heard about the students' goal came through, especially the faculty members and parents from Martin Avenue and other North Bellmore district schools. "This is an amazing story about helping others," said Martin Avenue Principal Mark Wiener.
On May 19, Martin Avenue alumni and current students unveiled the million pennies they were donating to the breast-cancer charities. The children's good work and persistence inspired others to give. At the ceremony, representatives of Bethpage Federal Savings Bank donated another $20,000 to the cause. Also, state Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. and Assemblyman David McDonough presented a state matching grant of $10,000.
All told, $40,000 was raised. President of 1 in 9 Geri Barish accepted the donations on behalf of the organization. "This is a celebration of hope and community spirit," Kahn-Wolk said.
