It makes the event very meaningful to students, their families and the community. Many schools require that students learn to help others and perform community service. Few elementary programs do this as well as Jump Rope For Heart. We make sure to launch the program by inviting someone to speak who does medical research or uses it, such as a scientist or doctor. We also invite stroke survivors who can talk about how advances in heart disease and stroke research have helped them.
People make donations for very personal reasons.
They donate to Jump Rope For Heart for very different reasons than they have for buying candy to raise money for school activities. Many people want to contribute to the American Heart Association, and they pledge to the Jump Rope For Heart event precisely because it actively involves kids. Our school has several students who are physically challenged. We try to find ways that all children can work with the rope. A child in a wheelchair can go around it.