Pennies
Orientation
A Guide to
Pennies Orientation
Agenda
1) Our Mission
2) Steps for Success
3) Dates and Goals
4) Materials
5) Coordinator Guide
6) Online Fundraising
7) Coin Management
8) Prizes and Recognition
9) Fun Ideas to Reach Your Goal
Pennies Orientation
Our Mission
You are participating in a community service program that
directly helps kids with cancer and their families!
Last year, nearly 30,000 schools and 15 million students
contributed to making sure cures happen TODAY!
Funds are making a difference! – Since 1954, LLS has invested
almost $1 billion in blood cancer research.
Our mission is to cure blood cancers and help improve the
lives of patients and their families. We do this through:
Cancer Research – In the last 10 years, half of the drugs
approved by the FDA for cancer, were for blood cancer. Many
of these drugs have gone on to help in other indications!
Bottom line: blood is easier to study because it’s more
accessible.
Family Support and Education – There are an estimated
1,012,533 people living with blood cancers in the US. We help
them with financial assistance, education and support groups.
Pennies Orientation
Steps for Success
1) Form a committee
• Fellow educators
• Student groups (HOSA, STUCO, etc)
• Parent organizations
2) Set a goal
3) Make a coin counting plan
• Coinstar
• Bank
• Coin counting committee
4) Start thinking of incentives
5) Distribute materials, set up your online
donation page, and get your school excited!
6) Have a kick-off assembly
7) Collect the money and get it made into a
check or money order
8) Send in your donation online or through the
mail with your Wrap Up Report
9) Celebrate!
Pennies Orientation
Dates & Goals
Most schools run the program for 1-3 weeks or they
incorporate it into a pre-established week like
Homecoming, Spirit Week, or sporting events like
Miracle Minute.
When will your school participate?
Campaign Dates: ________________________
Find out your minimum donation total to receive an
incentive. Set a goal for your school so you can track
your success!
Our School’s Goal: $_____________________
Pennies Orientation
Materials
Campaign Posters:
Hang these in high-traffic areas prior
to the start of the program to get
students familiar with the campaign
and excited to participate.
Classroom Collection Boxes:
Each classroom will receive easy to
put together cardboard collection
boxes. Have teachers display these
in the classroom. Students can
decorate and tailor them to stand
out.
School Thermometer Chart:
Hang in a prominent place and
write in your school’s goal. Color
in the thermometer frequently so
students can track their
progress.
Classroom Thermometer Chart:
Each classroom will receive a chart to
help track their progress towards a bronze,
silver or gold pennant.
Pennies Orientation
Materials
Honored Hero Poster:
This poster features our current
Honored Heroes. Hang the poster in
your school to put a face to your coin
collection and help your students
understand how their donations help
others.
Paper Pennies:
Sell these for $1-$5 and make
a penny wall, ask your
local businesses to sell them
during your campaign or
create a Wall of Hope display.
Student Collection Boxes: Boxes are
given to elementary students to take
home and collect change or keep in
their locker to collect change from
lunch.
Available Upon Request:
Student Series DVD:
Includes three promotional and education videos.
Stickers: You can sell these or
use them as rewards for
donating a certain amount.
Why, Charlie Brown, Why DVD: (K-5,
30 minutes). Also available in
Spanish!
Pennies Orientation
Coordinator Guide
You will receive a folder in the mail separate from your
materials. This is your coordinator guide! It details the program
thoroughly and will help you run a successful campaign.
Some highlights include:
•Daily school announcements (one informative announcement
for everyday you run the campaign)
•Fundraising ideas
•Service Learning Lesson Plans (ideas to help teachers integrate
the program into educational classroom work)
•Checklists
•FAQs
•Supply List
•Coin management
•Prizes and recognition
•Wrap up report (this is what you will fill out and send in with
you donation at the end of the campaign)
Pennies Orientation
Online Donating
Online donating is the easiest way to keep track of your school’s progress
and to spread awareness to your community that you are helping end blood
cancers! You will receive a link to your page that is easy to set up by
classroom, teacher, student, or grade level.
Here are some tips to successfully launch your online donation page:
•Have teachers set up their own page
•Share the school’s link via Facebook, Twitter, newsletters or the school’s
website
•Have incentives in place for those who utilize the page
•Be aware of any incentives your chapter offers for online donations
•Customize your page with pictures and updates about the events
happening throughout the campaign
•Ask us if you need help! We can set up the page for you!
Pennies Orientation
Coin Management
Step 1: Form a Coin Counting Committee
Consider asking teachers, other school staff, student leaders or parent volunteers.
Step 2: Identify a Coin Counting Plan
Select the method that works best for your school.
•Local Bank: Call your local bank to see if they will partner with your school in this
community service project by counting all your change for free. Arrange to bring your
change to the bank several times throughout your campaign.
•Coinstar: Coinstar machines found in your local supermarket offer a reasonable
alternative to counting coins. Be sure to note that Coinstar charges a 9% fee.
Step 3: Deposit Coins at Least Once a Week
Coins weigh a lot, so be prepared yet flexible with your committee.
Step 4: Keep a Tally of Classroom Totals
Ask teachers in each class to have their coins counted daily instead of once a week.
Coin Counting Tips:
•If you don’t want to deal with coin counting, try using the paper pennies. Students
can donate $1 or $5 for a paper penny to tape up in the school hallway.
•Do any parents work for a bank or banking service? Can they donate the use of a coin
counter?
•Ask students to collect money at home and have parents write a check (payable to
LLS) for the total.
•Digital donations! Have your students donate to their classroom’s online donation
page. No change to count and the money goes directly to LLS!
Pennies Orientation
Prizes and Recognition
Celebration Party:
If your school reaches your donation
minimum for your chapter, LLS will provide
a celebration party for the class that
brought in the most donations! This party
may be pizza or pasta depending on your
school’s location.
Pennants:
Gold, Silver, and Bronze felt pennants will
be distributed to classes that raise at least
$100. Mark how many you will need on
your wrap up report.
Gift Cards:
Your chapter may offer gift cards if your
school raises more than the minimum
needed for a celebration party.
Banners:
If your school raises $4,000 you will
receive a “Champions of Change” banner
to display!
Name an LLS-funded Research:
Schools that raise $25,000 will be eligible
to link their school name with an LLSfunded research project!
Pennies Orientation
Ideas to Reach Your Goal
• Stuck for a Buck
• Coin per Day: Monday – Pennies, Tuesday – Nickles…
• Staff Does Something Crazy When you meet __ Goal:
• Shave Head/Dye Hair
• Dress Silly
• Dress in Costume
• Kiss a Pig
• If a teacher’s a specific team’s fan, wear opposite jersey
• Hat or PJ Day – pay $1 to get this privilege
• Paper Penny Wall
•Teachers pay $10 to wear jeans for the week
•Extra recess time
•Extra gym time
•Pay to listen to your iPod at lunch or use you phone in
homeroom
Pennies Orientation
Questions?
Pennies Orientation