Penny chain to aim for Guinness record

Columbus kids hope to build 75mile line of coins.

making the longest continuous chain of pennies for the Guinness Book of Records.

‘It’s been an incredible undertaking — a true feat of mathematics and problem-solving,’ said Bill Grindle, who is overseeing the attempt.

The pennies represent money raised by children through See Kids Dream, the organization Grindle started in 2008 to teach students in central Ohio elementary and middle schools about philanthropy.

The program this year expanded from 17 to 47 schools after receiving grants from the Columbus Foundation and JPMorgan Chase, which is loaning the pennies for the chain.

At the beginning of the school year, students in each classroom discuss issues they care about as inspiration for a four- to six-week penny drive.

After the penny collection, they research community needs and organizations before asking the student body to vote on a recipient of the money and a partner for a spring service project.

Participating schools in the Columbus, Dublin and Worthington districts, along with three private or charter schools, have raised more than $119,000 to date, including $50,125.59 in pennies this school year.

Causes related to children and animals are always popular, but Grindle, who works full time with See Kids Dream, said he also sees students addressing difficult adult topics.

Last year, students at Devonshire Alternative Elementary on the northeast side initially discussed helping injured children but, through that discussion, learned about domestic violence and ultimately decided to donate their pennies to a shelter for victims.

Principal Patricia Price has been surprised by the passion of her students, who this year asked questions about overhead costs as they interviewed eight nonprofit organizations.

Empowered by the program, a first-grader even started a successful letter-writing campaign to update the school playground equipment.

“If they see something and they feel they can make a difference,” Price said, “they’re not shy about making a plan.”

Organizers have been working on the penny chain’s logistics for months, with architects plotting the placement of the penny-holding tarps at Genoa Park and, in case of rain, inside two halls at the Veterans Memorial.

In the fall, students practiced laying pennies to determine how much time is needed to complete one mile of pennies (two hours, 43 minutes).

On Sunday, the final day of the arts festival, students and other volunteers, divided into teams of 20 to 30, will work on the pennies from about 8: 30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Each group will be responsible for a mile of the chain.

The group expects to break the record of nearly 45 miles set last year in the Philippines — and to celebrate the accomplishments of the See Kids Dream students.

After the Guinness adjudicator inspects the chain, Grindle noted, the volunteer work will resume: There will be more than 6 million pennies to pick up.