Penny Drive Benefits Guilds’ School

The lowly penny is the humblest of coins, often tossed from pockets and ignored on sidewalks. But for the Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center, this copper coin becomes gold when combined with millions like it.

It’s time to gather pennies from piggy banks and kitchen drawers for Spokane Guilds’ School’s largest fund-raiser, “Kids for Kids Penny Drive Community Day” on Saturday. Each year, the school collects pennies toward its endowment fund - a “forever gift” - to help children with neuromuscular disease.

Last year’s drive amassed more than 2 million pennies, a value of $22,000. Donations of bills and checks brought the total to $78,000. This year, organizers hope to collect $150,000; $48,000 in pennies.

“A penny makes a difference; it’s a `forever gift,”’ said Faris Charbonneau, penny drive chairwoman. “One child, one person, one penny.”

The gift is felt by 200 children - with motor disorders like cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and spina bifida - who receive life-changing treatment at the Spokane Guilds’ School.

The school’s early intervention program for children from birth to 3 - the critical years of development in a child’s life - includes physical and occupational therapy, speech-language therapy and special education.

The program is making a profound difference.

Told by doctors what they cannot do, children at the Guilds’ School are discovering what they can do and are learning how to crawl, walk, speak and play.

“Early intervention gives a child the opportunity of development to his or her full potential … to live in the least restrictive environment possible,” Charbonneau said.

After leaving the Guilds’ School, most of the children will attend public schools.

Accordingly, the penny drive serves not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness of disabilities and help school-aged children feel comfortable with kids in wheelchairs.

Charbonneau works year-round with 70 public and private schools to introduce students to the Guilds’ School’s mission and its young members.

“Kids are more alike than different,” Charbonneau tells students during her school presentations. “These kids want to have friends and be just like you.

“The brain and neurons send messages to our bodies,” she tells students. “A child at the Guilds’ School might need help getting those neurons working.”

Rallying their support, students have conducted all-school penny drives throughout the year to help the “Kids for Kids” campaign. They have gathered thousands of pennies and, at the same time, have learned how to give of themselves in a community project, Charbonneau said.

In its third year, the penny drive has also enjoyed corporate support. Its “Community Partners” - Inland Northwest Dairies, KHQ-TV, Lawton Printing and Washington Trust Bank - help with everything from publicity to printing.

“A committed community and caring staff are (our) foundations for success,” Charbonneau said.

Pennies, dollars and checks can be dropped off on Saturday at these locations: Spokane Guilds’ School, 2118 W. Garland; Inland Northwest Dairies, 33 E. Francis; Lawton Printing, 4111 E. Mission; Spokane Valley Mall; KHQ-TV, 4202 S. Regal; Windermere North Wall, 8524 N. Wall; Windermere Tupper, 12929 E. Sprague; and Windermere Manito, 2829 S. Grand.

For more information on the Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center, call 326-1651.

MDA fund-raisers

More than 6,000 children will hop, skip and jump to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Association Monday through Friday during MDA’s annual “Hop-A-Thon.”

“Everybody is Different - Nobody’s Perfect” is the theme of this year’s fund-raiser in which 150 day-care centers, preschools and elementary schools gather sponsorships and donations for each hop children complete in a two-minute period.

Proceeds will support MDA’s patient services, wheelchair purchases and summer camp scholarships.

The event also serves as a disability awareness program to teach children that they don’t have to be afraid of disabilities, said MDA spokeswoman Jana Worthington.

“We tailor the program to children, ages 4 to 12, teaching them about muscular dystrophy and wheelchair etiquette and helping them understand that everyone has both talents and limitations,” Worthington said.

In its 14th year, the Hop-A-Thon has become a tradition for many area schools. The program raised $20,000 last year; this year’s goal is $30,000.

For more information, call 325-3747.

Dance to the tunes of Casey MacGill and the Spirits of Rhythm during Saturday’s Tri-Cities dance/dinner to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“Swing Into the Spring” begins at 6 p.m. at Richland’s Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock. Festivities include no-host cocktails, a silent auction and dancing until midnight. Proceeds will help send children with neuromuscular diseases to MDA’s summer camp on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Tickets are $50 per person; call (509) 783-6779 by Wednesday’s deadline.

Women’s events

Is it true that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” as Lord Acton wrote in 1887?

“Toward a Free & Virtuous Society” will examine the principles of free market economics during a luncheon meeting of Spokane College Women’s Association on Wednesday at Shilo Inn, 923 E. Third.

Featured speaker will be the Rev. Robert Sirico, co-founder and president of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, in Michigan.

Sirico will examine the ethical, practical and economic premises upon which virtue and freedom rest. Cost is $10.75. Today is the deadline for reservations; call 924-7806.

Women can learn effective leadership styles, group dynamics and organizational leadership during a one-day conference Thursday at Washington State University in Pullman.

“Women and Leadership Forum” will be from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Compton Union Building. Keynote speaker Sister Kathleen Ross, a MacArthur Fellow and president of Heritage College, has received numerous awards for her achievements in cross-cultural communication and education.

During a sold-out luncheon, Woman of the Year and Women of Distinction awards will honor an employee, student, alumna and community member who have contributed to the advancement of women. Conference registration is $15 general admission; WSU students, faculty and staff may attend free of charge. To register by tomorrow’s deadline, call (509) 335-3530.

Don’t miss Elizabeth Stoyanovich, associate conductor with the Spokane Symphony, as she shares from her life Saturday during a luncheon meeting of the American Association of University Women. “Women Among Us, Women Who Lead” will be from noon to 1:45 p.m. at C.I. Shenanigan’s, 332 N. Spokane Falls Court.

Tickets are $11 by Thursday. For reservations, call 455-9301.

Second Timers support group

Grandparents caring for grandchildren can meet for friendship and education at “Second Timers,” a support group at Spokane Valley Center, 11922 E. First. Meetings begin Wednesday and continue the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To register, call 927-1153.

This sidebar appeared with the story: COMING UP Food and fun A spaghetti feed to benefit Silver Spurs Youth Folk Dancers will be from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the Sons of Norway Hall, 6712 N. Country Homes Blvd. Some 45 young people, 10 to 18 years old, will perform folk dances from Germany, Mexico and France. And guests can dance to the tunes of Otis Band, a musical combo from the Hillyard Belles’ stage band. Proceeds will support Silver Spurs’ programs and its scholarship fund named for Edwin “Red” Henderson, who founded Silver Spurs in 1947. Tickets at the door are $5 for adults, $4.50 for seniors, and $3.50 for children 12 and under.