- The Penny Harvest
The Penny Harvest, an educational program created by the not-for-profit
Common Cents , engages students in Youth Philanthropy – fundraising, grant-making and service – with the goal of developing their generosity and moral character as well as their understanding of democratic participation.Nationally, over half a million children participate in the Penny Harvest and have raised over 5 million dollars since the program’s inception. Students use the funds to provide monetary grants to non-profits and carry-out Neighborhood Service projects. [Common Cents and the 05/06 Penny Harvest Yearbook, Common Cents New York, Inc. 2006] Many of the causes and charities these children support through the Penny Harvest include sexual abuse, LGBT rights, issues surrounding homelessness, animal cruelty, and immigration rights, and charities such as American Red Cross, Make A Wish Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.
The Penny Harvest is a
service-learning and character education program that strives to continue President Bill Clinton’s vision of expanding opportunities for Americans to serve their communities. ["Our History and Legislation" Corporation for National and Community Service. US Government. 25 Jan. 2007Background
Penny Harvest: The Beginning
The Penny Harvest began in 1991 with a question from then 4-year old Nora Gross – “That man is cold. Why can’t we take him home?” She was referring to a homeless man she saw while walking on NYC’s Broadway with her father Teddy Gross, founder of Common Cents and the [http://www.pennyharvest.org Penny Harvest] . [Roberts, Sam. "A Way to Help with a Penny." New York Times 24 Dec. 1990, sec. B.]
That one question was the catalyst for what was to become the Penny Harvest program. Gross began “harvesting” in his building, “asking neighbors if they had any pennies, and how they would feel about giving them to the homeless.” [Roberts, Sam. "A Way to Help with a Penny." New York Times 24 Dec. 1990, sec. B.]
”Each year in New York City, 2 million dollars’ worth of pennies are wasted. People dump them into jars….” [Morreale, Marie T. “Using Their Common Cents” Scholastic 14 Feb. 1997] Others of them “disappear into drawers, behind car seats, into trash heaps and into penny oblivion.” [Blau, Eleanor. “For Many New Yorkers, Pennies Don’t Add Up” New York Times 31 Dec. 1991, sec. B.] The Penny Harvest program ventures to capitalize on these annually discarded pennies.
The Phases
The year long Penny Harvest is divided into four phases. [ [http://www.commoncents.org/go.cfm/phase_by_phase Common Cents creates service-learning, character education and philanthropy programs, including the Penny Harvest, for young children ] ]
Gathering Pennies: Phase 1
Each October and November, children between the ages of four and 14 connect with their parents, friends, neighbors and local businesses as they go door to door in search of pennies. Neighbors of all types and generations talk and share with the ultimate goal of coalescing as a stronger community. [Common Cents and the 05/06 Penny Harvest Yearbook, Common Cents New York, Inc. 2006]
The program attempts to engage New York City schools to involve the entire student body. Through activities like penny rallies and “Wheel of Caring” assemblies, students, teachers, parents and staff join forces for one common goal: beating the “25 Sack Challenge” [Grza, Pam & Stevens, Pam. “Best Practices in Youth Philanthropy” Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth. July 2002: 38] Each school strives to fill 25 sacks of pennies weighing Pound avoirdupois|750}.
To encourage participation, student leaders make PA announcements, create and decorate bulletin boards, rally individual classes and lead assemblies. “Teachers also use [the program] to connect real-life issues with subjects like math, English and social Studies.” [Greer, Colin. "Make Pennies Count." Parade Magazine 11 Aug. 1996: 8-9.]
Making Grants: Phase 2
The Philanthropy Roundtable, distinctive to the Penny Harvest program, enables the students to ultimately decide how to spend the harvest funds. In brief, young people form Philanthropy Roundtables, study community problems, and try to determine which organizations best alleviate those problems. They then make cash grants, with the pennies they collected earlier, to those organizations. [Greer, Colin. "Make Pennies Count." Parade Magazine 11 Aug. 1996: 8-9.]
Taking Action: Phase 3
Students conceive and plan their own Neighborhood Service projects. They partner with experienced neighborhood groups to learn more about complex community problems and how to solve them.
Outcomes
In a study of the impact of the Penny Harvest program conducted by Dr. Chris Weiss, the Director of Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences at Columbia University, teachers involved in the program expressed that students who participate gain self-confidence and the self-awareness that they can make a difference. The teachers saw participating students sharpen their teamwork, communication and leadership skills and increase their effort academically. Importantly, teachers said they see students carry these positive impacts over time. In addition, teachers reported the program connects their schools to people and resources in the surrounding community and helps to get parents involved.
Accolades
In 2006 Chancellor Joel I. Klein of the
New York City Department of Education told principals that he recommended they bring the Penny Harvest to their schools “as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve the culture in your school. Consider the Penny Harvest as the key to service-learning and community involvement in your school.” [Chancellor Joel Klein. 05-06 Endorsement. New York City Department of Education 30 Aug. 2006 [http://www.commoncents.org/index.cfm?objectid=A968CB17-C09F-0662-D2C82AA884D07E34] ]“The Penny Harvest takes place early in the year and helps foster school spirit, a positive atmosphere, improved community relations and favorable publicity,” said Principal Robert Guzzio of PS 14 in the Bronx. “The program develops a commitment to community, self worth and a caring attitude among students.” [Common Cents and the 05/06 Penny Harvest Yearbook, Common Cents New York, Inc. 2006]
Many youngsters find themselves taking part in group activities and even transforming into leaders for the first time as they get caught up in the thrill of the harvest. Diane Gonzalez, a teacher at PS 94, said “Everyone participated. Even students with speech problems were speaking and interacting, giving presentations and making phone calls!” [Common Cents and the 05/06 Penny Harvest Yearbook, Common Cents New York, Inc. 2006]
One parent said, “It was without a doubt the best thing my son did all year ... out of all of the classes and school assignments, he got the most out of the Penny Harvest.” [Common Cents and the 05/06 Penny Harvest Yearbook, Common Cents New York, Inc. 2006]
Major Funders
*
Ford Foundation
*Foundation for Jewish Community
*JPMorgan Chase
*New York City Council
*New York City Department of Education References
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