Scottsburg Elementary School is having a banner year. The elementary school was recently recognized by the Indiana Association of Student Councils and Riley Children’s Foundation for its generous giving and was named the top elementary school in the state for its philanthropy.
Raising more than $2,600 last year, students at Scottsburg Elementary School were able to help scientists and doctors at Riley Hospital for Children to do research for finding new treatments and cures for children with cancer, diabetes, heart and lung defects, and genetic disorders.
“Every year, we help Riley Hospital,” said Principal Deborah Yost to the entire student body gathered in the school’s gymnasium on Thursday, Sept. 15. “You guys help the kids of Indiana.”
“We could not do it without you,” said Susan Miles, Kids Caring & Sharing officer to the student body. “What a generous and giving community you have at SES!”
Miles presented the students of SES with a gold level banner, the highest award from the Riley Children’s Foundation for the school’s fundraising efforts. The elementary school also received a plaque, a decal, and its designation as a Miracle School — meaning the school raised more than $1 per student. SES students raised nearly $6 per child to help others. In all, 600 schools participated in fundraising for Riley Children’s Foundation, and the schools statewide raised $1.98 million for research, Miles said.
“I cannot think of a better cause,” said Rick Zollman, SES Student Council sponsor.
“I like to give it back to the kids,” said Grace Routt, a sixth-grade student at Scottsburg Middle School. She served as an officer on the SES Student Council last year.
To help raise money, the SES Student Council sponsored Penny Wars, where students compete against each other to see which classroom can raise the most money.
“I’m kind of glad we made our mark,” said Rachael Mount, a sixth-grade student at Scottsburg Middle School and president of the SES Student Council last year.
“It means a lot,” said Jennifer Routt, SES Student Council sponsor. “I was surprised.”
Yost said she saw first-hand the generosity of the students at SES when the school raised money for the ALS Association. The 2014 viral, socially-shared fundraiser showed millions of people pouring buckets of ice-cold water over their heads or jumping in ice-cold swimming pools to help find a cure for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Just two years later, the money — that SES and millions of others gave — helped researchers identify the gene that causes ALS.
“I found that out very soon when we did the Ice Bucket Challenge. We raised more than $2,000. I am overwhelmed at the generosity of our kids,” Yost said.
At Scott County School District 2, Scottsburg Elementary School’s story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.