Eagle Bluff students raise $887 for earthquake and tsunami relief

A week-long fundraising effort by fifth grade students in the Challenge Program for Leadership class at Eagle Bluff Elementary School yielded about $887 for the victims of the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

“We raised a good amount of money,” Carter Melby said. “I think people liked the idea of being able to help.”

The 10 students in the class taught by Jason Ludwigson brainstormed ideas, created posters, and encouraged student, staff and parent involvement to raise funds to help Japan, Taylor Eide said.

Posters generated interest and explained the donation process, Justin Anno and Brooke Richardson said.

“We knew we had to make a reward and I thought it would be a good idea to make it a root beer float party,” Andrew Runde said. “Other events have had ice cream.”

The incentive had some Eagle Bluff classrooms and students turning the fundraiser into a competition, Alli Burke said. Her classmates compared it to a penny war or last school year’s Pennies for Peace event.

Annemarie Fenton, Noah Skifton, Christine Cheung and Katherine Chafoulias will help their classmates present the donation to the Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Red Cross Friday to help with relief efforts in Japan. A representative is coming to their class.