HOWELL — Staff members and students at the Taunton School will be raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., beginning at the end of February.
The Math-A-Thon, under the direction of teacher Cari Kennedy, will kick off on Feb. 27. All proceeds from the event will go toward St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which specializes in treating pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. The hospital accepts patients regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
“I can’t imagine as a parent getting that kind of news and not having the necessary funds to treat them and give them a second chance at life, so the concept of St. Jude’s ‘never to turn anyone away’ appeals to me,” Kennedy said of why she wanted to bring the Math-A-Thon to the Taunton School. “We would be remiss as human beings not to support the least able among us.”
According to a press release, the event works with teachers serving as volunteer coordinators for Math-A-Thon at their school, while participating students solve math problems in the Math-A-Thon Funbook. Students ask family members and friends for donations in support of their participation in the Math-A-Thon.
According to Kennedy, there has been about 70 percent participation for both years prior to this one.
“Some students secure pledges of $350, and some get the $10 minimum. It can vary by family or the time they put into it,” she said. “I would like to get participation to 100 percent, so I try to target students who did not do much last year and see what I can do to get their participation up.”
Kennedy said the school raised more than $10,000 in 2012 and more than $9,000 in 2013.
“I am looking forward to a good year this year,” she said.
According to the press release, the Math-A-Thon has become one of America’s largest education-based fundraisers during its 30-year history. More than 10,000 schools across the country participate in the program every year.
Contact Greg Kennelty at [email protected].