New York, NY 27 Jun 2005 - Public school students, teachers, principals, staff, and parents in New York City have raised more than $300,000 for the International Rescue Committee and the American Red Cross to help children in areas devastated by December's tsunami.
New York City Public Schools Press Release, June 27, 2005:
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein and United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Randi Weingarten today announced that New York City’s public schools raised over $300,000 as part of the Department of Education (DOE) and UFT Tsunami Relief Fund partnership. Funds collected during the twelve-week drive, in which the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and District Council 37 also participated, have been sent to specially created New York City public school funds at two leading relief organizations, the American Red Cross in Greater New York and the International Rescue Committee. These two organizations have earmarked the funds to maximize aid to children and school rebuilding in the afflicted communities.
“I want to thank and commend our students, teachers, principals, staff, parents, and all other members of our City’s school community for their remarkable goodwill and generosity, as well as our partners at the American Red Cross and International Rescue Committee,” Chancellor Klein said. “This relief effort has shown once again how much good we can do for others when we all work together and how we can transform a devastating, tragic event into an act of hope and renewal.”
“Here, the entire school community came together and, through bake sales, coin drives and other creative ways, raised so much money to help children and rebuild schools in areas devastated by the tsunami,” UFT President Randi Weingarten said. “I’d especially like to thank the American Red Cross and the International Rescue Committee for helping to coordinate this humanitarian effort.”
“The generosity of New York City school children and their families is extraordinary and touching,” said George Rupp, president of the International Rescue Committee. “Their contributions will help us rebuild schools, playgrounds and recreational facilities serving thousands of children.”
“The American Red Cross in Greater New York is glad to have been the conduit of this incredible generosity displayed by the school children of New York City as they reached out to help the individuals and families affected by the devastating tsunami,” said Theresa A. Bischoff, CEO, American Red Cross in Greater New York. “We have learned a great deal about the compassion of our children and are proud that they recognized the need to help others. We also thank the teachers who coordinated these efforts and look forward to continuing collaborative partnerships with the schools for the good of our local and global communities as they face other emergencies.”
As part of the fundraising effort, the DOE waived the Chancellor's Regulation setting limits on the number of school fundraisers and invited each and every New York City public school to participate in the charitable campaign on a voluntary basis. Public schools throughout the City organized various events to raise awareness and money and assist those affected by the tsunami. These events included bake sales, community fundraisers, and coin drives.
