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Interviews by Aisha Gawad and photos by Andi Dube  You always hear us talk about the 500,000 students who participate in the Penny Harvest, but the unsung heroes of the program are the nearly 2,000 teachers and principals who bring the program to life in schools for these young children. On October 16th, Common Cents paid tribute to our Penny Harvest Coaches with a kick-off party. The party also served as a chance to celebrate the partnership between Common Cents and Cole Haan, our new corporate sponsor, and to honor members of the Decade Club Coaches who have been involved for at least 10 years. More than 300 Penny Harvest Coaches and principals gathered at Cole Haan’s Rockefeller Center store, and we stopped to talk with some of them about their experiences with the Penny Harvest. Here is what they had to say: Manuel Estrella, Coach, P.S. 321-BrooklynHow long have you been a Penny Harvest Coach? This is my second year. What about the Penny Harvest made you want to be involved? At first, I didn’t know what it was, but after reading the curriculum, I wanted to do it. It’s a valuable tool for getting children involved in social justice and encouraging them to be independent thinkers. What are your hopes for this year’s Penny Harvest? I hope that the students get a general sense of what it means to be kind, and then to continue the work. I hope they realize that this should be a lifelong commitment. And the same thing goes for the coaches.  Julia Sherman, Coach, P.S. 134-BrooklynHow long have you been a Penny Harvest Coach? 4 years What keeps you involved in the Penny Harvest program? I think it’s just wonderful, and the children like it a lot. They see how a little penny can turn into millions of pennies. It’s a way for the children to understand that a penny—something they don’t really want—can mean a lot to others. What student-made grant do you remember the most? Last year, we gave to United Cerebral Palsy, which has a school for children with cerebral palsy right next to us. Our students got to see what these other children go through, and how even though they have a disability, they still think about things and feel things just like the rest of us. It was a real eye-opener for them.  Martin Pietrusiewicz, Teacher at PH School, P.S. 16-BrooklynWhat about the Penny Harvest do you find the most compelling and why do you choose to support it? At our school, we try to do something every month to build a sense of community, and Penny Harvest fits that description. Everybody has spare change, so everyone can contribute, and it’s usually the kids who have the least who give the most. Students have made 13,500 Penny Harvest grants since 1991, supporting causes like the environment, disaster relief, children and the elderly. If you could advise children about a cause to support this year, what would it be? Well, we have a lot of homeless people around our school, so it would make sense to support a problem that we see every day.  Maria Pluchinotta, Decade Club Coach, P.S. 48-BrooklynHow long have you been a Penny Harvest Coach? A long time! Let’s just say more than 10 years. What about the Penny Harvest keeps you involved after all those years? It’s just so fulfilling to see how the children really learn to do good. Children you didn’t think would be interested get really into it, and do their own research into issues they care about. What student-made grant do you remember the most? Last year, we gave to a food pantry in our neighborhood. It felt good to help people so nearby. How does participating in the Penny Harvest impact your students most? They start thinking about helping others, and it becomes a part of them. After they leave the school, they come back and tell us about all the good things they have been doing. It turns them into little philanthropists.  Jose Vilson, Coach, I.S. 52-Washington HeightsHow long have you been a Penny Harvest coach? 2 years What about the Penny Harvest makes you want to be involved? Last year, it was my first year doing it, and it was amazing. I found it very galvanizing for the kids—it got them thinking about social awareness issues. What student-made grant do you remember the most? Last year, we gave to several organizations but my favorites were the American Red Cross and the International Development and Relief Fund. The American Red Cross especially does a lot of disaster relief work in Latin America and that is something that is near to my heart and also something that hits close to home for many of my students. How does participating in the Penny Harvest impact your students most? I find that the poorer and perhaps less socially-aware kids really want to be involved. It makes the kids more mature and well-spoken, and shows them how they can make change in the world around them.  Anthony Rosado, Coach, P.S. 188How long have you been a Penny Harvest Coach? This is my 11th year. What about the Penny Harvest keeps you involved? My kids come from low-down neighborhoods, and it shows them what they can do with money, how to use it, and what it can do for the community. What student-made grant do you remember the most? We usually give to local shelters because so many of our kids live in shelters. The money can be used to buy coats and food, and it’s something that goes back to my kids directly. Leah Kaplan, Coach, P.S. 17-Bronx How long have you been a Penny Harvest Coach? I’m a second year coach. What about the Penny Harvest made you want to be involved? Well, my students are kids with autism or who are emotionally disturbed, and the program really helps them. It motivates them and helps them see the world around them. They are more compassionate. This year, when I told them that we’re doing the Penny Harvest again, they got really excited! What student-made grant do you remember the most? Last year, we gave to the Make-A-Wish foundation. One of our kids had a heart transplant when he was younger and he shared his story with the class. The kids voted and decided they wanted to help other sick children. Tara Doherty, Coach, P.S. 42-Bronx How long have you been a Penny Harvest Coach? This is my first year. I’m co-coaching with my co-teacher, and she is the one who introduced the program to me. What about the Penny Harvest made you want to be involved? I’m really excited to give back, and to find a way for the kids to give back—to do something for others and not just for themselves. What are your hopes for your first year as a Penny Harvest Coach? I want to open my students’ eyes to the world around them, the problems in the community, and make them more aware. There are a lot of homeless people around my school, and the kids see them, so I hope we do something to give back to that issue. |
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