Two BHDS Students Honored as Top Fundraisers for American Heart Association
Posted April 18, 2012
Top fundraisers for the American Heart Association, BHDS students Max Sanz-Pastor, third grade, and Jacob Ryan, first grade, were invited to the Warriors game for the Fan Tunnel (fans get to high-five Warriors players coming out of the locker room and through the tunnel) this past April 7, 2012.
BHDS K-5 students raised over $6,500 for the American Heart Association, and Max and Jacob were the top fundraisers in the group. They were honored in a special pre-game presentation, in center court.
"I asked my relatives, all my neighbors and my mom's friends on Facebook," said Max when asked how he raised funds. "I went to all my neighbors' front doors and introduced myself saying, 'I'm in third grade at Brandeis and we're fundraising for the American Heart Association.' Most people were really nice and some gave only $5 but some gave $50," he added.
The fundraising work took dedication.
"Jacob was really motivated - he wanted to help and he made videos and helped write e-mails for online fundraising," said Jacob's mom, Hagit Glickman."He also performed at different fundraising events," she added. Jacob used a personal approach to potential donors: "My dad and my grandpa both have hearts that are not healthy and I want to make sure we can help them and help kids who don't have healthy hearts."
BHDS students concluded a jumprope unit in P.E. recently, which was connected to the annual campaign to raise both awareness about heart health and funds for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope for Heart (K-2) and Hoop for Heart (3-8).
"At BHDS, our core values of integrity, kindness and service are integrated into everything we do - including physical education," said athletics director Nobuo Kotani. "Our joint program with the American Heart Association helps connect lifelong fitness and wellness with giving back to others in our community," he added.
The message was received by our students.
"How would you feel if you couldn't go to school, play sports and hang out with your friends—if you had a bad heart and were stuck lying down in the hospital? I know I wouldn't like it," said Max.
