SOLON, Ohio – Orchard Middle School’s annual PTA fundraiser took a different approach this year – focusing not just on raising funds, but also on fostering a culture of kindness and giving back.
As part of the Raise Craze initiative, students could choose from a list of possible ways to help others or be kind, come up with their own ideas or participate in three school-wide service projects that allowed every student to participate, regardless of their ability to raise money.
According to a news release from the Solon City School District, one of the most heartwarming initiatives was a letter-writing campaign for members of the military.
On three days in September, students met in the media center before school to craft personal messages of gratitude and support for service members serving overseas.
The third session was particularly special, as it was led by an Orchard parent, retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Daniel Rosenberg.
His presence provided students with a unique perspective on the impact of their letters and the importance of showing appreciation for our troops.
The fifth- and sixth-graders crafted thank-you cards for a Marine unit preparing for a seven-month deployment to Australia.
Rosenberg shared personal experiences and insights about Marine life, helping students understand the impact of their kind gestures, the news release stated.
“Receiving letters while on active duty or being deployed means a lot,” Rosenberg said in the news release, recalling his own deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and North Africa/Europe.
Students learned fascinating facts about the Marines, including the establishment of the Corps in 1775, predating the country itself.
Rosenberg emphasized the equality within the Corps in responding to a student question about women in service: “A Marine is a Marine. Everyone puts on the same uniform – we’re on the same team.”
He also shared a striking statistic: Of the approximately 330 million people living in the United States, less than 1 percent are on active duty at any given time.
Rosenberg’s career spanned roles in special operations, infantry and strategic planning. He stressed the importance of constant preparedness: “Being ready for the unexpected – always training – when you do get that call, so you are ready to go in the next 24 hours.”
When asked what was the most challenging thing he faced while serving, Rosenberg said it was the first time he deployed as a parent, leaving with a 4-year-old at home and newborn twins on the way.
“I hadn’t met the twins while I was deployed that time, and they were 5 months old when I got home,” he recalled in the news release. “That was hard.”
Those twins, now sixth-graders Hailey and Zach Rosenberg, were among the letter-writing crew, adding a poignant personal connection to the activity.
The colorful cards, brimming with newfound understanding and appreciation, will soon travel across the country to California and the Marines in the unit Rosenberg recommended.
The cards represent not just gratitude, but a bridge between Solon’s students and the broader world of service and sacrifice – a world that, for some students, is closer to home than others might realize.
Second service project
Understanding that food insecurity is a pressing issue for many, a second service project for the school was a food drive. Students were encouraged to bring non-perishable items to school.
Students also collected donations for local animal shelters to provide comfort and care for animals in need, teaching them about the importance of animal welfare as their third service project.
“Our goal with Raise Craze is to foster a spirit of gratitude, inclusion and community service,’ Amber Rogers, the fundraiser chair for the Orchard PTA, said in a news release.
“By focusing on acts of kindness, we’re showing our students that everyone has the power to make a positive impact, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
The school’s goal was to raise $25,000 through this initiative to support various school programs, including the Welcome Back Bash, Golden Apple prizes, Quarter Reward parties, Field Day, STEM events and Fun Night.
In addition, the money will help the PTA show appreciation for the dedicated teachers and staff throughout the year, the release stated.
As of Thursday (Sept. 26), the students had raised about $22,000, which is $6,000 more than was raised last year, according to Tammy Strom, the district’s communications director.
“The kindness Raise Craze really took off and was so well received,” Strom said in an email.
The students will do their last fundraiser push of the year Saturday (Sept. 28) at Pop Culture CLE, a hand-crafted dessert shop in Solon. Twenty-five percent of sales will be donated to the school, and that will count toward their grand total as well, Strom said.
