Pennypack Elementary Staff Get Pied in the Face for Heart Health

It isn’t every day students can throw a pie in the face of their favorite teacher. However, at Pennypack Elementary School in Hatboro, they had the opportunity during the Pie in the Face assembly March 7, which was an incentive for the Jump Rope for Heart program and fundraiser.

“It was a lot of fun for students to do,” Physical Education teacher Janet Adlam said. She organized the Jump Rope of Heart program at the school. “Our main initiative though was to make them aware of heart health, such as what they can do to stay fit, and to raise money to help those who aren’t so lucky.”

Pennypack students were encouraged to raise $1,200 total for the Jump Rope for Heart program, which is sponsored by the American Heart Association. The funds raised through the program are used to provide life-saving services and treatment for adults and children with heart conditions.

Students were encouraged to be “HEART Heroes” by donating spare change or collected donations during the two weeks in February the school participated in the Jump Rope for Heart program. Adlam said students took to the idea so well they ended up raising $2,370, nearly twice their original goal.

“It was wonderful to see students so dedicated to helping others,” Adlam said. “Normally, the school collects about $1,000 in donations for the program. Students went above and beyond any expectations we had for how this was going to turn out.”

As an added incentive, several staff members decided to receive a pie in the face if students reached the fundraising goal. When students had exceeded the goal, more staff eagerly signed up to keep encouraging students to donate. In total, eight teachers got a pie in the face.

“We’re proud of our students for being true HEART Heroes,” Adlam said. “This is a small school, so for them to collect so much in just two weeks is amazing. These children care about others and are always willing to help.”