Princeton NJ Hopewell Press Releases

TIMBERLANE STUDENTS SHOW THEIR CHARITABLE COLORS WORKING WITH CHRISTINE’S HOPE??

Timberlane Middle School students have forged a charitable partnership with local organization Christine’s Hope for Kids, raising thousands of dollars for great causes.

Last week, the students raised an astounding $3000 for Good Grief (www.good-grief.com) a grief counseling service headquartered in Morristown, NJ, that assists kids throughout the state after the loss of a parent or sibling. Christine’s Hope (www.christineshope.org), the charity founded in honor of Timberlane graduate Christine Gianacaci, who died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake while on a charitable mission with her college, matched the Timberlane funds for a grand total of $6000, all contributed to Good Grief.
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th District) stopped by last week to congratulate the students on their efforts.

“Small actions really can add up to create something big,” said Rep. Holt. “That’s what Timberlane Middle School students proved by raising $3,000 to help families struggling with grief. Their efforts are impressive and inspiring, and the matching donation from Christine’s Hope for Kids will ensure that the students’ contributions have a meaningful and lasting effect.”

The students raised the money through a drive they call “Penny Wars,” in which students bring in donations, from spare change to larger gifts, for a one-week period and homerooms engage in a friendly competition to raise the most.
Just a week before, Timberlane’s sixth grade and Christine’s Hope pooled their resources to present 100 emergency toiletry/basic-need kits to the Red Cross to distribute to disaster victims around the country. They also put together 60 “overnight” bags for kids, which included pajamas, toiletries, a book and a teddy bear, to be distributed to local charities for kids after disasters such as house fires. The sixth grade raised more than $1,400 through the sale of Christine’s Hope bracelets and t-shirts, and through donations, which Christine’s Hope then matched.

“The Timberlane students have been unbelievable!” said Jean Gianacaci, Christine’s mother and founder, with her husband John, of Christine’s Hope for Kids. The charity has worked with other Hopewell schools, as well, in raising money for various causes. Since its founding, in 2010, the charity has given away more than $130,000. But Mrs. Gianacaci said their projects are not always about money. Timberlane has also been a partner in collecting used sporting equipment and used books that then go to kids without the funds to buy their own.

Next on the list of Timberlane’s projects: Bagging Summer Hunger. Students attending the sixth grade activity night will bring along breakfast and lunch items and Christine’s Hope will bag them up for local charities to distribute this summer to kids who normally count on free school breakfast and lunch programs to keep from going hungry.
“Timberlane just has great kids,” said Mrs. Gianacaci. “They rock!”