Mitchell students help support March of Dimes

Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Jennifer S. Abell, director of the Southern Maryland March of Dimes, right, presents Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School student Lenzy Stallard with a trophy for raising $140 for the March of Dimes through a reading fundraiser. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Students at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School recently raised more than $1,195 for the March of Dimes by participating in a book reading fundraiser.

Jennifer S. Abell, director of the Southern Maryland March of Dimes and Board of Education member, presented medals to more than 30 students on Oct. 29 who participated in the fundraiser. Students were asked to read and earned funds from sponsors for each book they completed, according to a press release.

Abell presented bronze medals to six students who read between four and 10 books, silver medals to three students who read between 11 and 19 books and gold medals to 23 students who read 20 or more books.

Abell also presented Lenzy Stallard, a third-grade student, with a trophy for raising $140.

Delma Smallwood, a reading resource teacher and Mitchell instructional leadership team member, also presented students with recognition certificates and tickets for a free meal at the Greene Turtle restaurant in La Plata.

The mission of the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization, is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.