Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser shatters records

Ethan Pageler’s sales pitch is simple — he just asks everyone he meets if they’d be willing to pledge toward his fundraising for Jump Rope for Heart. It might be simple, but it’s an approach that has paid off year after year. Pageler, a fourth-grader at Thomas Jefferson Elementary, raised $1,625 for the American Heart Association this year.

Pageler isn’t the only student at Thomas Jefferson who brought in big bucks for the American Heart Association, fellow TJ student Ty Woollums, a second-grader, raised $1,285 as well. In total, students at Thomas Jefferson raised $11,319.90 for the organization this year, the highest total of any school in the district. Together, Pageler and Woollums represent more than 20 percent of the money raised by the school.

Heidi Woollums, the school’s physical education teacher said the Thomas Jefferson is fortunate to have plenty of parents willing to go above and beyond to help students reach their fundraising goals. Raising the money is only half the battle, students also participate in a physical fitness component as well. During gym time at the school students rotated through different fitness stations including jumping rope, a climbing wall and “Knock out Tobacco” bowling.

“I think it’s just the great support our families give us,” Woollums said. “We always do amazing over here, I’m so proud of my school.”

Students start collecting donations in February, after a kick-off assembly that includes a representative from the American Heart Association to get them fired up for the contest. Donors have a chance to collect prizes, like a new Go-Pro camera, based on how much they’re able to pledge, something Woollums said helps students stay excited during the project. However, it’s more than just winning prizes, Woollums said the most important thing is students are learning the importance of staying physically fit at a young age, as well as learning to think about others.

“They’re learning to think about things outside of themselves, to think about other people,” she said. “A lot of them know someone who’s been affected by this.”

Students at Berg Middle School get a chance to participate in the event, too. Instead of jumping rope, fifth and six-graders at Berg hold a Hoops for Heart contest, shooting baskets to raise money for the association. Upperclassmen at Berg sell T-shirts to support the American Heart Association.

Donations have always been high at Thomas Jefferson, but Woollums said a change this year in the program that allows online donations, via Facebook or email campaigns has allowed students to reach a wider audience for their fundraising. Without going door to door to solicit donations, students were able to raise more this year than in past years, she said.

A new camera isn’t the only prize that students can win this year, the top 20 collectors at Thomas Jefferson also got to have a pizza party with Woollums, and they’ll receive extra PE time as well. Last Friday Pageler and Ty Woollums were recognized during an assembly, where they each received a medal. Pageler said he plans to give his medal to his sister Rachel, who’ll be a first-grader at Thomas Jefferson next year. She helped him solicit donations this year, and he’s hoping she’ll carry on his legacy next year.

“She helped me raise a lot of money, she helped me ask a lot of people,” Pageler said. “I want to encourage her.”

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com