Glen Rose students raise over $3,000 for St. Jude’s
Students at Glen Rose Elementary recently partnered with a local women’s service organization to raise an incredible amount of money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Epsilon Sigma Alpha is an international sorority/ service organization first chartered in Jacksonville, Texas in 1929 “for the purpose of preparing its members to meet the challenges of an ever- changing world,” as stated on the organization’s parent website.
The members of ESA International are all dedicated to the likeminded purpose of making the world a better place. They’ve done this by raising millions of dollars for charitable organizations and volunteering countless hours doing service projects throughout their communities, and on a global scale.
The Alpha Omega chapter of ESA formed in Malvern in 1950, joining with 12 other chapters statewide who aligned with the other groups throughout the U. S., Canada and Australia to benefit numerous causes. Malvern ESA member Sharon Loftis, who’s served in the Alpha Omega chapter for over 46 years, said her local chapter has probably helped raise $ 30,000$ 40,000 for local schools, organizations, individuals and charitable efforts over the years.
ESA Malvern’s latest fundraising project at Glen Rose Elementary is close to their hearts, and one they’ve done several times in the past. ESA International was approached by Danny Thomas, founder of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, back in 1972 with a personal appeal for help. St. Jude’s came knocking, and ESA answered the call in a big way, raising over $ 275 million for the cancer research/ medical facility to date.
ESA International has raised more than $ 356.6 million for global causes since their inception. Last year alone, they raised over $ 15.2 million. Arkansas
chapters helped contribute over $ 477,595 last year to the many important initiatives adopted by the global service organization.
The Alpha Omega chapter has done great things in Malvern, including sponsoring the Miss Brickfest Pageant, the Christmas on the Courthouse Square, supporting and rewarding local veterans, and donating to countless school groups, just for starters. Global initiatives include support for the American Red Cross, Easter Seals, the March of Dimes, and of course St. Jude’s— their tireless efforts make them the largest third- party donor to the noted facility.
ESA in Malvern tasked the students of Glen Rose Elementary with collecting “Change to Make a Change” in the fight against childhood cancer at St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital, and the students did not disappoint.
In fact, ESA had previously planned to reward the single class that collected the most money with a pizza party, but the school put in such a great campus- wide showing, the women of the service organization decided to treat the entire 1st through 4th grades with pizza.
The gesture was made possible through a generous partnership with Domino’s Pizza on MLK Boulevard. in Malvern, who both contributed several pies to the party and offered the ESA group a big discount on the rest, which helped the women spread joy across the whole campus Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Debra Schoultz’s first grade class raised the most money, bringing in over $ 500 for the children of St. Jude’s. As a reward for the top honor, Mrs. Schoultz’s students received not only the Domino’s pizza, but also warm brownies and a cool punch drink, all served up personally by a few grateful members from the local ESA chapter.
Several classes at the elementary raised amounts in the $ 200-$ 300 range, all lending to make a real impact in St. Jude’s mission to heal children who are fighting an unfair fight against pediatric cancers.
Glen Rose Elementary raked in a whopping $ 3,075 in total, which earned the student body pizza en masse and the utmost respect and appreciation of the ESA members. The winning class was congratulated by Principal Trey Stevens, who stopped in to the afternoon party for a minute to praise and thank the students for their efforts.
Loftis said she and the other ESA members are thrilled with the outcome of the Glen Rose project and would love to invite all local school districts to partner with them to conduct a similar fundraising event on their campuses in the future, as the fight against pediatric cancers and other diseases never stops at St. Jude’s.
For more information about the international ESA organization, please visit their parent website, call 970- 223- 2824, or email esainfo@epsilonsigmaalpha.org. To learn more about the Alpha Omega chapter of ESA here in Malvern, please visit www.esaar.org or call Loftis at 501- 337- 6234.
The Alpha Omega chapter of ESA Malvern would love to invite new caring members who want to make a difference into the fold. They invite you to attend one of their monthly meetings held the second Tuesday of each month starting at 6 p. m., in the administration building at ASU Three Rivers.