This year, the third-grade students at Pottsville Area's John S. Clarke Elementary Center decided to give Avenues the most in donations in the 13th annual Karen's Heroes Program, event chairwoman Anita Dwyer, Barnesville, said Tuesday.
The program is an annual tribute to elementary school teacher Karen Chattin-Ney, who died of cancer in 1998 at age 46. Every year, students vote to distribute funds from the Karen Chattin-Ney Education Fund to five local charities. A committee overseeing the fund decides which local organizations will be recognized.
"Over a one-week period, from March 26 to 30, the children learned about the work of five local charities that benefit local literacy, children's reading, children with diabetes, nature conservation and people with disabilities. The children learned how and why charities need volunteer and financial support," Dwyer said.
A total of $1,500 will be distributed among the five local charities. There were 173 students voting, each vote worth $5 and the balance will be distributed equally among the organizations, Dwyer said.
Avenues was founded as United Cerebral Palsy of Schuylkill County in 1952. The mission of the nonprofit group is to provide opportunity and support for people with disabilities.
It's known for one of its annual fundraisers, a Duck Race. The 24th annual Avenues Duck Race is scheduled for 3:32 p.m. April 29 at Mill Creek bordering Wal-Mart Supercenter, Saint Clair, according to avenuesofpa.org.
This year, Karen's Heroes voted to give $562 to Avenues, Dwyer said.
The other charities which took part this year and the amounts they received were: Schuylkill County Diabetes Organization, $337; Schuylkill County Conservancy, $287; Pottsville Free Public Library, $182; and the Literacy Council for Schuylkill County, $132.