Queen Village Schoolkids Raise Money For Haitian Schools

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Some South Philadelphia elementary school students continued their fundraising efforts today -- and had some fun -- with an event called "Hoops For Haiti."

Each of the students at the William Meredith School, at 5th and Fitzwater Streets, donated $5 in exchange for learning some basketball skills and drills from local high school and college athletes.

Eighth grade teacher Kelly Schaff was behind this latest fundraiser.  She had done some volunteer work last summer in Port-au-Prince, after the earthquake that devastated the island nation.  She was so touched by the people and their resilience that she wanted to teach her students about "compassion and the need to contribute to the betterment of others."

"The kids have been raising money through dress-down days and bake sales," she told KYW Newsradio on Thursday. "Today, we wanted to do a final big hooray for what the kids have done."

Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Perez is president of the student government at Meredith.

"The money is being donated to a school in Haiti because there's no public education there -- it's only private.  Everybody has to pay to go to school," she explains.

Thirteen-year-old Caila Adams-Lewis was delighted to do her part.  "I know that I'm privileged to have a house, clothes, and stuff," she said.

The Queen Village school hoped to raise $5000, which could send 20 kids to school for a year in Haiti.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060.