WCDS Kicks Off Change for Change Drive

Westchester Country Day School students selected four organizations to receive donations to the school’s annual Change for Change coin collection drive.

The following organizations were selected by a pre-K through 12th school-wide vote:

• Epilepsy Alliance
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
• Ocean Conservancy

On Feb. 15, nine groups of students gave speeches during a virtual assembly on behalf of charitable causes they had nominated before students voted for the final recipients.

Change for Change is an annual project of Westchester’s C.A.R.E.S. Crews program, which gets younger and older students working together multiple times a year on projects that show compassion, awareness, responsibility, empathy and service to others. During the Change for Change coin drive, students are encouraged to collect loose change for the purpose of making a positive impact for service-minded organizations. It is a practical opportunity to connect character and service with classroom subjects such as math, social studies and language arts.

The coin drive is also a competition between buddy groups to see which grades can bring in the most money. As students bring in money, the coins are tallied and stickers representing each dollar are added to large piggy banks displayed in the Wilson Center.

The collection continues through March 22 when the Change Champs and final tally of coins will be announced.