Students Raise $77,950 for American Heart Association

District elementary school students “jumped rope” their way to raising a whopping $77,950 for the American Heart Association in the annual “Jump Rope for Heart” event this year.

An annual fund-raising event held under the auspices of the American Heart Association, Jump Rope for Heart promotes the value of physical activity while enabling students to contribute to their community’s welfare. District students have participated in the event for many years with the sponsorship and encouragement of the physical education staff in the elementary schools.

Prior to the actual event, students obtain sponsorships from their families, family friends, or neighbors. At times, the students are able to increase the money they raise through matching corporate sponsorships or by dedicating donations to a family member affected by cardiovascular disease. Solicitation for sponsorships is conducted under supervision and with permission from the parents.

"This year’s event was a success due to the organization and promotion by the physical education staff and the support from the staff and administration at each school,“ Cathy McGinley, chair for the elementary school physical education department, said. “We also had lots of volunteer help with tracking donations.”

East Bradford Elementary School students raised the most money, bringing in an impressive $18,000. Other participating elementary schools included Westtown-Thornbury, $15,760; Exton, $13,500; Hillsdale, $8,700; Fern Hill, $7,500; Starkweather, $7,100; Glen Acres, $4.890, and Mary C. Howse, $2,500.

Joanne Lepage, a physical education teacher at Hillsdale, coordinates Jump Rope for Heart statewide for the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She said that when she came to West Chester three years ago, she was “thrilled to see such enthusiasm for Jump Rope for Heart from the elementary school physical education staff.”

"The staff knows how to get the students excited to participate in a healthy lifetime activity (jumping rope) while performing an awesome community service,” she added.

At Hillsdale, she reported, students participated in Jump Rope for Heart for the first time this year. Activities started with a demonstration by the ‘Rippin Ropers’ Jump Rope group in a school wide assembly. For the next three weeks, students jumped rope in their physical education classes, learning various techniques and steps. The school then set aside one day for the actual event, with the Parent Teacher Organization providing water bottles for everyone and the Giunta’s and Giant Supermarkets providing apples as a healthy snack. Music played in the gymnasium.

"The gym was rocking!” Lepage said. “Hillsdale can’t wait to get jumping next year!”

At the other end of the district, Westtown-Thornbury teacher Jim Davis credited the success of the program “to the great generosity of our families.”

"Each year they have been so generous in their support of our event and have strongly encouraged their children to lead healthy, active lives, something that we have tried to teach the children well,’ he said.

"Further evidence of the wonderful support that we get from our parents is found the day we do our event. Our Parent Teacher Organization provides and serves refreshments to the children as they jump.”

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