OES raises over $10K for Red Cross

Oleai Elementary School raised over $10,000 through pledges for the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter during the 32nd Annual Walkathon last Saturday.

That makes it the sixth consecutive year that OES has been recognized as the school with the highest amount of pledges raised.

According to OES coordinator Rocelle Carreon, the school continues to strive and raise funds not to win, but to show their support for the American Red Cross.

“It’s really not about winning. It’s really about being here and supporting the cause…it’s not about the intent to win, it’s about the teamwork,” she said.

Carreon said the pledge-raising also doubles as lesson for her students, teaching them to be selfless and to think beyond themselves.

“I’m trying to instill in my students that they can’t just think about themselves, they can’t think selfish[ly]. They have to go out to the community and see that there are bigger things out there than themselves. …The kids see that and it makes them excited every year,” she said.

When asked what drives OES to continue to raise as much funds as they can during the Walkathon pledge season, Carreon said its both passion and spirit.

“It really is about passion…it’s that mindset of looking beyond just themselves and about coming together and showing their school spirit, their school pride…” she said.

Although OES is proud about their accomplishments and wants to continue to raise the most among all the other public schools, Carreon said she is still proud of the other schools that continue to support the cause.

“I am proud of the entire PSS family…we’re here because we believe in it regardless if you volunteered or not,” she said. “I know for a fact that if there was a disaster…I know that we can’t be there but a volunteer will be and I know that our charity, our support will help the people because its teamwork.”

Carreon said that OES would not be able to hold on to the title they have been holding on to for years if it wasn’t for the help of the students, the parents, and especially the generous community.

“We have amazing students in our school, we have amazing parents that support and we also have a generous community as well,” she said.

OES raised over $10,000, but the exact amount raised has yet to be tabulated. The school raised about $13,000 last year.