Fourth-grader Brenton Rand turned a $5 donation into $146 to support Berkshire United Way.
When Brenton and his parents, Craig and Kathryn, stopped by the BUW office to deliver his gift, he explained that he had done chores for others to grow his donation. His mother shared that Brenton wanted to help as many people in the community as possible and decided the best way to make a broader impact was by supporting Berkshire United Way.
This initiative is part of The Giving Project, a “pay-it-forward” program that fourth graders at Capeless Elementary School have participated in since 2014. This year, 28 students received $5 and were challenged to find creative ways to make the money grow before donating it to a charity or organization of their choice.
“My partner teacher and I use this project as an opportunity every holiday season to ‘gift’ the students with this lesson so they can experience for themselves that it is better to give than to receive,” said Brenton’s teacher, Jeanna Newton.
Each student then creates a poster board to share their experience with the school and their families.
“It’s truly a meaningful and magical experience,” – Jeanna Newton
“We are grateful and proud of Brenton for thinking about our neighbors in need,” said Katherine von Haefen, President and CEO of BUW. “Through the collective power of his own network, he increased his donation so that we can do more to support our community.”
Read more about the project in the Berkshire Eagle: From $5 to $5,600: Capeless fourth graders raise thousands for local charities