News & Events

Kids Inc.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WINTERSVILLE - The fourth-grade class at Hills Elementary School recently raised more than $3,000, all through the service-learning program Kids Inc.

Nine years ago fourth-grade teacher Janet Maxon wanted her pupils to experience owning and running a business instead of just reading about the experiences.

"The program started off small. The first year the students only raised $300," she said. "Since then, however, the program has grown immensely."

According to Maxon, the process starts in February each school year.

"The students create a product, they then budget the costs, market the product and ultimately figure out a final goal profit," she explained. "Through the process, the students learn the importance of setting both long- and short-term goals in business as well as in life."

This year's product was titled Brownie Cream Supreme.

"It was a cosmic brownie cut in half to make a sandwich with butter cream in the middle and then rolled in sprinkles," she explained. "They were then packaged."

The pupils designed the labels and picked the packaging, Maxon noted.

"They also created advertising jingles to be broadcast during the (school) announcements in the morning," she said.

Maxon said the pupils sold the goods outside of the classroom, and they also offered free delivery service.

"Our Send a Friend program was a big hit," she said. "Students and teachers could buy a brownie for someone else, put a message with it and have a student deliver it. This year, to boost sales, the students also created golden tickets, which entitled the winning student to receive a free brownie."

The class goal this year was $2,000.

"They exceeded their goal and raised $3,200," Maxon said. "They raised $1,761 in sales and the remaining money was investor money not used in the startup cost."

The community investors play a big role in the program, according to Maxon.

"This year we had more than 210 investors," Maxon stated. "This included family, friends and local businesses. We are so lucky to have these investors year after year to keep this program alive."

The proceeds this year were split between three causes.

"We donated $1,000 to both the Jefferson County Help Me Grow Program, as well as the autistic unit at the School of Bright Promise," Maxon said. "We also gave $1,000 to Virginia Pawelczyk, a substitute teacher at the school, whose baby boy was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor."

This year the pupils also were able to award a scholarship to an Indian Creek High School graduating senior.

"It was nice to be able to give a scholarship to a graduating senior this year," Maxon said. "This program started when these seniors were in fourth grade. They begged me to let them participate in this program. It has been a success ever since."

The scholarship winner was Trudy Dunlevy.

At the end of the year, a finale is held for the pupils and they receive certificates of completion.

"Every year the students set a goal, and if they beat that goal the staff has to participate in various dress-up days," Maxon explained. "This year the teachers dressed as rock stars and biker babes. Mr. DiAngelo was the head biker babe."

In the past nine years, the classes have raised a total of $15,400, according to Maxon.

Some of the previous charities have included Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Jefferson County, Jefferson County Visitation Center, Habitat for Humanity, A.L.I.V.E. Shelter and Mingo Social Services.

(Looman can be contacted at jlooman@heraldstaronline.com.)