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Medford schools raise $1,115 for Afghan children Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Schoolchildren from Oak Grove and Washington elementary schools hold up some of the money they've raised in response to President Bush's call for every child to contribute a dollar to help children in Afghanistan. In the center is Oak Grove sixth-grader Rachel Cisero; the others, from left, are classmates Lee Hodgson, Josh Santoyo, Carly Severson and Eric Wilson and Washington sixth-grader Brittany James. At bottom are preschooler Nattie Scott and her sister, Washington first-grader Naomi Scott. By DAMIAN MANN Medford's a long way from the conflict in Afghanistan, but when local students heard about the plight of Afghan children, they decided to help out. President George W. Bush recently asked every elementary school child in the United States to contribute a dollar to help children in Afghanistan. Carly Severson, 11, of Oak Grove Elementary, said the money is "so they don't starve during the winter. They could use it to get shelter." Washington Elementary School Principal Stephanie Johnson, who spearheaded the fundraising campaign, said a total of $1,115 was raised at four Medford elementary schools. "I challenged Art Peterson (principal at Oak Grove)," said Johnson. "He said, 'Let's put it on.' After that we challenged Roosevelt, then Kennedy." When it was noted that Washington raised the most - $503.89 - and apparently won the challenge, Johnson smiled and said, "I didn't say that." Johnson will have a lot to smile about in the next few days as she heads to Washington, D.C., where she hopes she can give the money raised by Medford students to the president. Johnson will be in the nation's capital, where her school will be recognized as one of 174 "beacon" schools throughout the United States that has succeeded despite the high number of students from low-income families. "We have 83 percent who are considered at the poverty level here," she said. "It's amazing that so many of these children were able to donate a dollar." The school will be recognized by the president for its work in generating community support, developing a drug and alcohol program, improving test scores and getting parental support. PTO president Barbara Curtis said the school just began the fund-raising campaign last week. "We wanted to average a dollar a kid," she said. "We did better than that." Oak Grove principal Art Peterson said his school raised $397. Children washed cars and did extra chores around their homes to get the money. Kennedy Elementary Schools raised $100, and Roosevelt raised $114.69. Other schools have also indicated they might raise money for the Afghan children. Students from Kennedy also sent a letter, written in Arabic and translated back into English, that is meant to be sent along with their money: "Hello, children of Afghanistan. The students of Kennedy School in the State of Oregon in America each send you one American dollar (4,750 afghanis). We want to help the children of your country. We also hope that you will stay well and healthy. From your friends in Oregon. Good-bye (literally "peace upon you" and "God be your Protection"). Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund for Afghan children may do so by sending donations to: Office of the President, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.