Labels for Education program nets East Fallowfield Elementary funds
By Lauren Parker- Gill, Staff Writer, The Times
Students from East Fallowfield Elementary School, along with superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner and principal Wayne Wallace accepted a check for $10,000, presented by Megan Hennigan and Erin Ward from Campbell’s Soup Company for the Labels for Education Grand Stand Sweepstakes for Schools.
EAST FALLOWFIELD – Representatives from Campbell’s Soup Company paid a special visit to East Fallowfield Elementary Tuesday, to present a check to the school for $10,000.
Campbell’s Soup Company has a fundraising program for schools called Labels for Education. This program enables schools to earn points by collecting and mailing in UPC codes from participating products.
The points can then be redeemed for educational merchandise, such as computers, software, musical instruments, library books, sports equipment and more. Each year, Labels for Education holds a Grandstand for Schools sweepstakes, in which 100 schools are chosen to win $10,000 each, for a grand total of $1,000,000.
The PTO treasurer of East Fallowfield Elementary School Sharon Zdankowski learned of the sweepstakes when looking through her Sunday paper and finding an entry form among the coupon section. Realizing that all schools nationwide were eligible, Zdankowski enlisted the help of fellow PTO board member Krista Marino in the application process.
“The application process was really easy,” said Marino. “All we needed to do was put 5 UPCs from participating products on each of the forms and mail them in.”
Realizing there wasn’t a limit on the number of entries per school, Zdankowski and Marino estimate they sent in about 50 forms. They were notified that East Fallowfield Elementary had won in November.
“This is the fun part of our job,” said Erin Ward of Campbell’s Soup Company, who presented the check to the school, along with Megan Hennigan.
Students from each grade level were brought to the multipurpose room to receive the check, along with school district superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner and principal of East Fallowfield Elementary Wayne Wallace.
“We are very grateful for the gratuitous donation from the Campbell’ Soup Labels for Education program and for our parent teacher organization for taking the initiative in entering the contest. This donation will enable us to provide the latest technology to our students, which will open a whole new world of unlimited possibilities and opportunities for them.” Wallace said.
After researching ideas, the PTO realized there are currently six classrooms that are not equipped with smart boards. They now have plans to purchase smart boards for those classrooms and have also scheduled a BMX Anti Bullying assembly through Dialed Action Sports Team, to be held later in the school year. The assembly has been held at the school in previous years and has been very popular among the students.
PTO president Carolyn McGaughey is also thankful to Zdankowski and Marino for entering the sweepstakes.
“I am fortunate to have a hardworking, child-centered PTO board that strive to make East Fallowfield amazing,” said McGaughey. “When Sharon called to tell me our school had won, I was in disbelief until I saw it on the sweepstakes website…it really is a blessing for East Fallowfield and another positive story for the Coatesville Area School District.”
For a complete listing of winners of the Grand Stand Sweepstakes for Schools: http://sweeps.labelsforeducation.com/
