HOPKINS SCHOOL RAISED MORE THAN $74,000 FOR CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK

Student Council President Nathaniel Zelinsky '09 announced the results of the School's annual canned food drive during assembly on Friday, January 9. Hundreds of students spread out across the state in a grassroots effort that ultimately raised $74,573.79 for the CT Food Bank.

CT Food Bank Executive Director Nancy Carrington was unable to attend to accept the check, but Stefanie Stevens, the organization's special events coordinator, was on hand to share a message from Ms. Carrington: “I am in awe of the creativity and hard work that you put into Hopkins’ 2008 fund drive for CFB. You have gone over the top this year, surpassing last year’s record breaking effort. I am thrilled and heartened by your generosity in these trying economic times. Your work to support CFB’s mission shows me that you have the capacity to be philanthropic leaders of tomorrow and I heartily hope you will be. On behalf of the tens of thousands of people who will be fed because of your efforts – thank you so very much.”

Each year the Hopkins School Student Council organizes this end-of-year fundraising effort to benefit the Connecticut Food Bank, the state’s largest “largest centralized source of donated, emergency food in Connecticut.” Students from all six classes (grades 7-12) compete to raise the most dollars for the cause. Here are the detailed results:

12th grade - $17,000.48
11th grade - $11,816.00
10th grade - $16,358.80
9th grade - $16,347.51
Junior School- $13,042
Total= $74,573.79

We congratulate all of our students for these wildly impressive results. Fundraising efforts focus students on creative ways to give “something of themselves” in exchange for a donation. Examples have been sacrificing a small luxury, like forgoing a stop at Dunkin Donuts and giving that money to the food bank, or helping with extra chores around the house or babysitting. One of the unique ways in which students have supported the food bank this year is that students in the “Love in Shakespeare” English class recited favorite love speeches from Shakespeare’s work outside of Atticus on Chapel Street in New Haven and asked for donations to support their performance, all of which went to the cause.

You may also wish to visit the CT Food Bank website at www.ctfoodbank.org to learn more about their programs and services that alleviate hunger in Connecticut.