Hometown Heroes
The Greater Good of Gathering Pennies:
Boulder Country Day’s Penny Harvest Article Emily O’Brien | Photography Provided
B
oulder Country Day School (BCD) recently wrapped up its first ever Penny Harvest program for the school year. The Penny Harvest is a nationwide comprehensive experience for student philanthropists. The organization has raised more than $9.5 million in grants donated by children since its 1991 inception. Contrary to popular belief, Penny Harvest is not actually a fundraiser. It is a unique, free, school-based citizenship and leadership service-learning program that integrates with the children’s school calendar. Students harvest what is known as “idle pennies” from family and friends and use the funds to make micro-grants to nonprofit organizations, while actively participating in corresponding service projects. Unlike other coin harvesting programs, Penny Harvest gives students total autonomy to decide where their coins should go. Students learn the importance of civic engagement, philanthropy and teamwork through this character-building experience and cultivate a greater understanding of their peers, their school and community. BCD first became familiar with the Penny Harvest through its work with The Young Philanthropists Foundation (YPF), a Denver-based nonprofit organization that is dedicated to engag-
50 Boulder Lifestyle | June 2014
ing youth in philanthropy by creating opportunities for kids and families to give back to their communities. YPF administers the Penny Harvest Program for the Denver-metro area. Fall Harvest
BCD contributing students ranged in age from Pre-K to 8th grade and together raised $5,775.00. The harvesting of “idle pennies” sends children to their houses to round up all the loose change they can find by lifting couch cushions and emptying junk drawers and knocking on neighbors’ doors. Then classrooms host friendly competitions with one another to drum up additional cash; some rooms even hosted in-class waffle sales (bake-sale style) to collect surplus donations. Micro-grants
Separated school divisions first debated and then voted to select an issue; animals, malaria and sick kids were top contenders. Next, students researched and interviewed organizations that addressed its chosen issue. Students conducted phone interviews compromised of ten procured questions with representatives from each organization, allowing the students to introduce him or herself and ask a question.