Students present 1,000+ books to Children’s hospital]

Students take center stage after buying books for children’s hospital

By ELISE FRANCO

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

Students at Hilltop Elementary in Canfield have talent, and they know it.

The entire student body gathered Friday afternoon to celebrate the end of the school’s Right to Read Week by presenting more than 1,100 books to Akron Children’s Hospital Boardman Campus.

Students in each grade participated in “Hilltop’s Got Talent” as a thank-you and celebration for the students’ effort, after presenting the books to Francine McBride, a hospital representative.

Right to Read committee member and first-grade teacher Charn Creed said that each year, the student body celebrates the accomplishment in a different way. Previous themes include a sock hop and country-western, and she said this year’s idea came from the television show “America’s Got Talent.”

“The kids have had a blast with it,” Creed said.

Performing for a panel of judges, 11 students took the stage showing off their talents that ranged from guitar playing to gymnastics and pogo-stick jumping to singing.

Kindergartner Andrew DeRosa showed off his rock ’n’ roll skills by playing the electric guitar for his classmates.

After finishing his song to thunderous applause, he told the crowd he’s played for two years.

Mia Cayavec, a second-grader, jumped more than 100 times on a pogo stick. Revealing that her all-time record for jumps was 300 elicited “oohs and ahhs” from classmates.

But Creed made sure to remind everyone of the assembly’s real purpose.

For one week in February, the students participated in the annual Right to Read fundraiser, collecting $2,887. The money raised was used to purchase 1,174 books, Creed said.

“The kids love, love it,” she said. “We bought the books for children who are in the hospital — many, many children who aren’t as fortunate as we are.”

McBride, who collects the books from the school each year, said the impact this program has on hospitalized children is widespread.

“It’s such a great asset, considering hospital funding for this kind of thing is limited right now,” she said. “I know 1,174 children who you’ve all made very happy.”

Creed said that in the program’s 11-year history, $30,317 has been raised and 12,504 books bought.

“It helps our children strengthen their reading skills, and it puts books in to the hands of children who need them the most,” she said.

efranco@vindy.com