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Hoops For Heart Fundraiser Pays Off at Putnam Valley Middle School
Tina Nicodemo believes in hitting the ground running. As a pregnancy leave replacement for longtime Putnam Valley Middle School (PVMS) coach and physical education teacher, Tracy Parchen, Ms. Nicodemo was put in charge of the 2007 Hoops for Heart program at PVMS, and her efforts are paying off handsomely. As Nicodemo explained, "Hoops for Heart is a fundraising program for The American Heart Association. The program promotes community service by raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research and educational programs while teaching physical fitness."
Ms. Nicodemo's fifth and sixth grade classes were given information on The American Heart Association and they were also informed about the growing problem of heart disease is in our country. They were then asked to get donations for the American Heart Association from relatives, neighbors, etc. The funds will help to supply much-needed educational materials, specialized training for nurses and doctors, and heart-related research
Ms. Nicodemo added: "There are so many benefits to this program. It increases the understanding of the seriousness of heart disease and stroke; it teaches students to set and achieve goals and discover they can make a difference; it provides students with a terrific way to learn about volunteering; and it promotes the value of physical activity to students while they participate in a cooperative effort. The students set a goal to raise $3000. So far, I have collected a little over $2000 and a lot of the students have yet to hand in their envelopes."
PVMS Principal Ed Hallisey had this to say: "This is a generation of students who love to find ways to give back to their community. Ms. Nicodemo has continued promoting our excellent way of combining student and family education with community service. It seems like everyone wins!"
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