Lowellville jeans days raise money for favorite charities

LOWELLVILLE -- Wearing jeans to school has paid off in a big way for the favorite charities of high school students in Lowellville.
This year, the teens donated $8,574.87, said Gene Jones, Lowellville High School principal.
The money was used to help three members of the senior class diagnosed with cancer. Funds were also donated to organizations such as the American Red Cross and American Cancer Society, Jones said.
Students raised the money by breaking the school dress code and wearing jeans to school Fridays. Students paid $1 every Friday they wore their favorite blue denim.
Lowellville introduced a school uniform policy in 1999; jeans days began in the 2000-2001 school year.
School classes and clubs reserve Fridays throughout the school year to raise funds for their charities of choice, Jones explained.
At least 50 percent of all funds raised those days went to the designated charities, he said; the other 50 percent went into a class fund to help students in need or pay for class functions.
Every Friday was reserved this school year, he added, and several have already been reserved for 2002-2003.