MPES Students Take on Fundraising Challenge for the American Heart Association

Over the course of several weeks, students at Matthew Paterson Elementary School ran, skip, jumped rope and scored some baskets as part of the annual Kids Heart Challenge with the American Heart Association. Our heart-healthy students collectively raised $14,940.06, surpassing their $14,000 goal, and making this year the second-largest amount raised to-date by the school. 

The school has been participating in this annual event for more than 15 years and, according to records kept by school staff since 2006, has raised more than $100,000 for the American Heart Association!  

Throughout the school, 108 students registered to participate in the challenge with half choosing to focus on being active for the and half choosing to focus on being kind – two challenge options provided by the American Heart Association. 

This year’s top three fundraisers in the school were Bryanna Kelly (Grade 2), Sophia Pinto (Grade 3), Aidan Ogunc (Grade 1). 

"We are proud of all our students for taking on the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge,” said Jay Memmel and Lisa Palmieri, physical education teachers at the school. “We have been working hard to instill heart healthy habits to the MPES students and families. The Kids Heart Challenge is a great program that helps educate the students about how they can raise awareness and prevent heart disease." 

"I am so proud of our Matthew Paterson students for bringing awareness to heart disease and for supporting the American Heart Association," said Principal Mike Kirk. "We are very appreciative to Coach Memmel and Palmieri for organizing this event each year and for teaching our students about what it takes to have a healthy heart. In addition, we would like to thank the community for their generous donations."