Philanthropy for pets

When empathy meets with passion and compassion, big things can happen.

Just ask the fourth and fifth graders on the Royalview Elementary School Royal Council in Willowick. After researching local charities, they chose Ohio Paws with Purpose as the beneficiary of their annual fundraising campaign.

This nonprofit is dedicated to keeping pets with their families during times of need, acting as a pet food pantry and offering assistance with veterinary needs.

Each year, before doing their research and voting on a charity, about 20 students on the council meet with Willowick Mayor Michael Vanni to talk about local organizations he feels are deserving of community support. After the students narrowed down their selections, they invited a representative from Ohio Paws with Purpose to come speak at a meeting so they could find out more for themselves.

“This is such a worthy charity; who doesn’t love animals?” says Royalview Principal Cyndi Tomassetti. “A lot of the students have pets, and it was especially meaningful for them to realize how many seniors rely on this charity to help keep their pets, who serve as their main source of companionship.”

In addition to collecting donations from friends and family, a cornerstone of the campaign was a toy auction the council held in December.

Teachers Heather Kiggins and Meredith Lieberg worked with the students to set goals and plan the campaign. The group is proud to have raised $878. Wayne Campbell and Michael Zuren, representatives from the charity, met with the students to accept the generous donation.

“Empathy is a character trait we focus on in all areas of our building,” says Principal Tomassetti. “It was wonderful to see empathy in action and for students to feel proud of making a difference in our community. We hope the lessons learned about civic responsibility and collaboration are just a starting point.”

Royalview Elementary School serves 675 students in grades K-5. Look for these monthly stories to cover topics from grades K-12 in the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools System. For details, visit WESchools.org. To find out more or donate to Ohio Paws with Purpose, visit OhioPawswithPurpose.org.