Simpson Elementary exceeds fundraising goal thanks to community donations

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — When you’re in elementary school, there’s nothing more fun than getting to go outside and play with your friends. But to students at Simpson Elementary School, outdoor time on Thursday was special as the school held its annual Jog-a-Thon.

The Jog-a-Thon is a celebration of the school exceeding its goal of $15,000 dollars for the Race For Education Fundraiser. School officials said that in just two weeks, the school and its students were able to be sponsored by families, friends, and many local businesses to help fund the Simpson PTA.

There was no minimum requirement for donations, but as of Wednesday, the school was able to raise its challenge goal of more than $20,000.

“Last year alone we provided about 16 different events and programs for the students. We do everything from field day, organizing classroom parties to events like this, veterans breakfast. And then this year we also are trying to add a few additional things, we want to purchase some STEM equipment for use in the classroom. The teachers can borrow and use it in their classroom for a lesson. We also are planning a family fun day in the spring and so we have some other goals we’re working towards as well,” Simpson PTA Vice President Tiffany Cropp said.

The Jog-a-Thon is a celebration of the students’ hard work in helping raise donations that go right back into their education. Students of all grades got the chance to go outside to run, dance, sing, play with bubbles and eat some snacks.

“I really love it…because it’s a good day really…running around with my friends,” first-grader Dominick DeRosa said.

“It’s about enriching the classroom, we do things in the classroom but we also try to get them out, getting them moving, developing healthy habits so we try to do that as much as often—as we possibly can,” said Cropp.

Students can get prizes for the number of donations they get such as something out of a treasure box, a “sit with a friend at lunch” card, having lunch with their teacher, stickers and homework passes.

And for every five donations students received, they got one entry for a chance to win the grand prize of one of the two Nintendo Switch.

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