High schools rally behind penny campaign

ANCHORAGE — A silent auction, spaghetti feed, competitions between classes and pleas for donations helped high school students from Talkeetna to South Anchorage raise more than $15,000 for the South Central Alaska Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Penny Drive is in its ninth year in Alaska, and this year's goal was the highest ever achieved, said Red Cross development director Jennifer Stokes.

"It was a dynamic combination of the students' hard work and our business community's support that made this year such a success," Stokes said.

In the Valley, the "Rookie of the Year" award went to Su Valley High School. In its first year participating in the drive, the Talkeetna school took first place in the Valley with $778.99 raised. Second place went to Wasilla High School with $754.99, and third to Palmer High School with $612.90.

Laurie Smith, the Valley coordinator, attributed the Valley drive's 500-percent increase to strong student participation.

"The kids really picked up the ball and ran with it this year. They took advantage of every opportunity to reach the community, including bringing their change jars to the Iditarod Days in Wasilla and standing in front of Fred Meyer during the busy weekend morning rush," Smith said.

The drive kicked off last month at local Subway stores, where students started collecting pennies.

The South Central Alaska American Red Cross distributes more than $154,000 annually in disaster relief, including assistance to more than 1,000 victims of single-family fire victims, in southcentral Alaska. In 2000, Red Cross volunteer and staff instructors trained more than 10,000 Alaskans in first aid, CPR, water safety, HIV/AIDS awareness and babysitting skills.

For more information about the American Red Cross, interested people may call 357-6060.