June 19, 2002
Bronx Middle School 118 students research
for a cure
Bronx — After an extensive Internet research project, local 6th graders at Middle School 118 chose the Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass., as the recipient of the proceeds raised by their new interactive yearbook.
The 6th grade yearbook committee began the project with computer teacher Mia Schual as an educational technology lesson. With a goal of finding a CD yearbook, the students set out to surf the Internet for companies that offered this new and inventive technology. They decided to contact Yearbook Interactive Inc., a software company in Salt Lake City, Utah, who responded by donating the replicated disks with the agreement that all proceeds from the yearbook supplement would go to the charity of the students' choice. With a new task at hand, the students resumed their Internet research to find a charity that raises money for children's cancer research.
"Computer literacy is a must in today's society," says Schual. "I enjoyed observing the leadership qualities that each child brought to this technology education project. Their hard work and passion to learn is reflected in the final product."
After becoming experts at Internet research, the students faced the true challenge when they had to decide which charity they wanted to support. Choosing between the different cancer organizations became much easier when the students read about the Jimmy Fund's annual Scooper Bowl® in June, an event in Boston that costs $5 for all-you-can-eat ice cream. Seeing the opportunity to donate money to a world-renowned cancer research center that also serves ice cream, the 6th graders decided to send all proceeds to the Jimmy Fund. Through the Jimmy Fund, the students received ice cream coupons from Edy's, Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs as a thank you for their contribution.
When all of the contributions are collected, the students will send the money back to Yearbook Interactive Inc., who will send a check to the Jimmy Fund in the name of Middle School 118.
The Jimmy Fund supports the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world-renowned pioneer in discovering and developing innovative, effective cancer therapies for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund's donors enable Dana-Farber's physicians and researchers to do the work necessary to raise the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world.
