June 9, 2023
Rockwood School District students, staff members and families combined to raise $152,845 during the 2022-2023 school year for the annual American Heart Association (AHA) Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge drive.
These programs help students learn about heart health while helping others by raising money for the AHA.
“The PE teachers in your community value the service learning programs that we offer and partner with them as a way to connect with the importance of heart health beyond the gym,” AHA senior development director for school engagement Jen Rogers said during a June 8 presentation to the Rockwood Board of Education.
Over the years, Rockwood has raised $1.94 million for the AHA.
This year, Woerther Elementary brothers Grayson and Camdyn were the top student fundraisers in the state of Missouri, collecting more than $6,600. As a reward, the brothers received a ride to school on a Metro West Fire Protection District engine.
In all, 32 Rockwood students raised more than $500 during the drive, and nine raised more than $1,000.
Woerther, led by physical education teachers Cory Hoots and Missy Poertner, raised the most money out of any Rockwood school, with $22,710.59. That total also placed Woerther at No. 7 in the state of Missouri.
Blevins Elementary raised $18,362.22 – good for 14th in the state – and Wild Horse Elementary ($13,757.75), Kellison Elementary ($11,097.73) and Stanton Elementary ($10,874.72) also raised more than $10,000.
A total of 21 Rockwood schools and 12,500 students participated in this year’s drive.
“Your kids have knocked it out of the park with the impact they’ve had on our mission,” Rogers said.