A Penny War has been waged at Bowling Green City Schools this past week to help support the veterans banners displayed on street light poles throughout the city.
When the jars of coins (and some dollars) were counted, the elementary schools were named the victors in the Penny War. The middle school secured second place, and the high school finished third.
But the real winner is the Bowling Green Community Foundation’s Hometown Heroes banner program, which recognizes veterans from Bowling Green. Nearly $3,000 was raised to establish an endowment fund to maintain and preserve the current Hometown Hero banners and support future banners throughout the city.
The funds collected will be officially presented to a BG Community Foundation representative during each school’s Veterans Day program next month.
Points in the Penny War were earned by donations at each school. The Kiwanis Key Club, Builders Club and K-Kids at each school building coordinated the district-wide event.
Each school had different labeled buckets where students could put pennies and bills in their own school buckets to earn positive points. They could also put silver coins in the other school buckets to give the other school buildings negative points.
The idea for the Penny War came from Pat Carney, the middle school teacher who organizes the Veterans Day programs each year, and Marcia Latta, president of the Bowling Green Community Foundation.
It was decided that the Penny War would be a great way to connect the students, the community, and local veterans, who are honored at each school’s Veterans Day programs in November. One large check from BG Schools will be created to present to the BG Community Foundation at all five Veterans Day programs so students can see the result of their efforts.
