By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE — Seventh-grade students throughout the city were asked to describe a charity they would like to present with a $100 donation; thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Southgate, five charities were duly awarded a heartfelt contribution Monday.
Winners of the Kiwanis essay contest and their families will present their thoughts Monday during a ceremony at Holiday Inn on Northline Road. Mark Piegza, Youth Committee chair for Kiwanis, invited students at Gerisch, St. Pius and Christ the King schools to answer the $100 question, and completed essays resulted in five winners and five honorable mentions that highlighted the work of notable charities including Cell Phones for Soldiers, Gleaners Food Bank and others.
Kiwanis member Dave Warren said that the essay contest is an annual tradition that encourages student awareness of local charities while contributing to the cause.
The five winners being honored Monday and their charities are: Kristen Cunningham, Penrickton Center for Blind Children; Vanessa Minella, Operation Smile; Joseph Mathis, Cell Phones for Soldiers; D’Asia Robinson, Gleaners Food Bank; and Joseph Hancock, Cell Phones for Soldiers. Each of the five organizations will be presented with their donation by the student essayist.
The five honorable mention essayists and their causes are: Avery Ortman, Alzheimer’s Association; Tara Clark, the Rainbow Connection; Karis Gafa, Art Feeds; Morgan Porter, S.A.C.E. Cares Food Bank; and Haley Picklo, Stepping Stones.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])