Students in 34 Blair County schools have collectively raised more than $124,000 for the Blair Unit of the American Cancer Society by selling daffodils.
Together the students sold 130,585 flowers and 796 “bears and bunches” to raise money that will be used for patient services, education programs and cancer research.
The Daffodil Days project is sponsored annually by the Altoona Regional Health System.
Tom Bradley of Altoona Area School District has organized school sales since 1988. He said, “Blair County schools have been recognized nationally by the American Cancer Society for their annual record-breaking performances. This year’s effort will continue to swell the fame of our students, teachers and parents.”
For the 11th straight year, Foot-of-Ten Elementary School in Hollidaysburg Area School District topped all schools by selling 34,878 flowers and 69 bears/bunches to retain the Bob Bundy Trophy. Foot-of-Ten was the top-selling school in Pennsylvania in each of the past two years.
Altoona’s Logan Elementary School sold 19,725 flowers and 109 bears/bunches – a figure more than three times higher than any past performance – in tribute to Carl Dunn, their principal, who lost his battle with cancer in December.
Five schools earned Gold Awards by raising more than $5,000: Foot-of-Ten Elementary School; Logan Elementary School; Frankstown Elementary School; Roaring Spring Elementary School and Juniata Gap Elementary School.
These schools will be recognized at the Altoona Curve game on Tuesday, May 8.
Silver Award winners raised $3,500-$4,999. They were: Charles W. Longer Elementary School; Bellwood-Antis High School; Spring Cove Middle School and Washington-Jefferson Elementary School.
Seven schools raised $2,500-$3,499 to win the Bronze Award including McAuliffe Heights at Irving Elementary School ; Ebner Elementary School; Penn-Lincoln Elementary School; Pleasant Valley Elementary School; Baker Elementary School; Allegheny No. 1 Elementary School and Roosevelt Junior High School.
An additional 11 schools will receive plaques for selling at least 1,000 flowers. They include: Tyrone Junior-Senior High School as well as AASD – Juniata, Wright and the Learning Express Preschool; Hollidaysburg Area SD – Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School; Spring Cove SD – East Freedom and Martinsburg elementary schools; Claysburg-Kimmel Elementary School; Bishop Guilfoyle High School; Altoona Central Catholic School and St. John the Evangelist School.
Also participating were Altoona and Hollidaysburg high schools; Keith Junior High School; Williamsburg Community High School; St. Rose of Lima School; Penn-Mont Academy and the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.
