Students and staff at Schuyler-Colfax Middle School celebrated a fundraising milestone. They reached the $100,000 mark after raising $19,250 this year for Mary’s place by the Sea, a nonprofit organization that provides free services and wellness retreats to women with cancer. They’ve raised $112,192 in donations since 2018.
Their campaign lasted throughout the month of October and came to a climax on October 30th, when the school had a rally featuring teachers duct taped to the gym wall called “Pink Jail” and “Stuck for a Buck.” Students were able to throw pies in the face of the health P.E. teacher and event organizer Samantha Levine
“I told the students that if they could raise an extra $1,500, they could put Ms. Rodriguez in a jail we created in the hallway, and they did it,” she said. “If they raised another $500, she would wear a pink animal costume in the jail, and they brought in another $500.”
The school event was inspired by Levine’s mother, Claire Levine, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Claire attended the rally and celebrated 25 years cancer-free.
And why does she love “Stuck for a Buck,” the fundraiser that stuck teachers to the wall with duct tape?
“Because it’s fun to watch them go down,” she said laughing.
Viola Martone, a 6th grader, hadn’t heard about Pink Out before coming to SCMS but wished they had it at her old school, “so that we can have fun and celebrate a great cause.”
“It’s chaotic,” she said of her first experience of the event. “But I like it because it’s very competitive but fun at the same time.”
Other school staff members who survived breast cancer were also recognized during the event, and their fundraising activities included a flag football tournament and various student-led events like “Top Dog,” which had students pose with the school’s therapy dog.
That is just how Schuyler-Colfax Middle School does things, according to Principal Rodriguez, who said the willingness to care extends far beyond Pink Out.
“It’s kindness, taking care of one another, respecting one another,” said Rodriguez of the school culture. “We care about each other, and if somebody is going through something difficult, whether it’s a family, a student, or the staff, everybody comes together in whatever way possible to take care of them, to lift them up.”
Eleanor Schoenberger, program director at Mary’s Place by the Sea, said $100,000 can help provide free services to more than 200 women with cancer, including oncology massage, counseling, yoga, and meditation
Schoenberger described a place where women with cancer can rest, spend time with others facing similar experiences and receive services including oncology massage, reflexology, counseling, yoga and meditation. The organization serves women with all types of cancer.
Here are some New Jersey organizations that focus on breast cancer research
Mary’s Place by the Sea: https://www.marysplacebythesea.org/
Susan G. Komen: https://www.komen.org/community/new-jersey/
South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition: https://southjerseybcc.org/
Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation: https://cdbcf.org
