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07-28-2008, 10:44 AM
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On Friday, members of the Rotary Club of Fluvanna County filled several Wal-Mart shopping carts with binders, notebooks, paper, pencils and other school supplies destined for 54 elementary school students in need.
The Rotarians do not know which schoolchildren will receive the supplies. The students whom Fluvanna County educators pick from the first, second and third grade will remain anonymous.
“We don’t know those kids in Guiana who are getting dental work,” said the club’s president, Albert Brittain. “That’s what Rotary does.” Rotary International sends volunteers and funding abroad to help people around the world.
In about a week, 54 Fluvanna students will each get a backpack filled with all the supplies they need when school starts Aug. 11. The backpacks are different colors to avoid attaching a stigma to the recipients.
The new program is called Bright Start for Kids, and it is the first use of funds from an endowment set up by Rotary Club member Clifford Altschull in memory of his wife, Rose Altschull, a former elementary school teacher and guidance counselor who died of breast cancer in February at age 60.
Altschull, 62, and his wife came up with the idea to start an endowment for needy schoolchildren while she was under hospice care at home. Formed in April, the Rose Deborah Altschull Endowment for Youth has grown to more than $21,500 with more than 100 donations from individuals, businesses and the Rotary Club, its sponsor.
Bright Start is based on a similar program in Richmond, Bright Beginnings, which has been in operation for about 20 years and provides supplies for more than 300 students.
Altschull was at Wal-Mart on Friday helping to gather supplies. Today, a team of volunteers will come to his home in Lake Monticello to “stuff” backpacks.
“I have to find things to do and this is a good thing to do. I’m not Donald Trump but I have resources,” said Altschull, who has given his money and time to the project. “I wanted to do things that she enjoyed with that money.”
Altschull said the endowment will help pay for other costs during the school year, including field trips, day camps, medical supplies and standardized tests.
Donations are still being accepted for the Bright Start program. Donors can give any amount or choose to sponsor a student with a $50 donation. Donations may be sent to the Rotary Club of Fluvanna County, care of Bernie Crown, at 25 Amethyst Road, Palmyra, VA 22963.
During her career, Rose Altschull was an active supporter of at-risk children and those lacking the structure at home to put them on equal footing with their peers, according to a release written by Rose and Clifford’s daughter, Edie Elkinson.
Clifford Altschull said he hopes to carry on his wife’s legacy. “This is a long-term thing. We’re going to try to make this work for some time,” he said.
On Friday, members of the Rotary Club of Fluvanna County filled several Wal-Mart shopping carts with binders, notebooks, paper, pencils and other school supplies destined for 54 elementary school students in need.
The Rotarians do not know which schoolchildren will receive the supplies. The students whom Fluvanna County educators pick from the first, second and third grade will remain anonymous.
“We don’t know those kids in Guiana who are getting dental work,” said the club’s president, Albert Brittain. “That’s what Rotary does.” Rotary International sends volunteers and funding abroad to help people around the world.
In about a week, 54 Fluvanna students will each get a backpack filled with all the supplies they need when school starts Aug. 11. The backpacks are different colors to avoid attaching a stigma to the recipients.
The new program is called Bright Start for Kids, and it is the first use of funds from an endowment set up by Rotary Club member Clifford Altschull in memory of his wife, Rose Altschull, a former elementary school teacher and guidance counselor who died of breast cancer in February at age 60.
Altschull, 62, and his wife came up with the idea to start an endowment for needy schoolchildren while she was under hospice care at home. Formed in April, the Rose Deborah Altschull Endowment for Youth has grown to more than $21,500 with more than 100 donations from individuals, businesses and the Rotary Club, its sponsor.
Bright Start is based on a similar program in Richmond, Bright Beginnings, which has been in operation for about 20 years and provides supplies for more than 300 students.
Altschull was at Wal-Mart on Friday helping to gather supplies. Today, a team of volunteers will come to his home in Lake Monticello to “stuff” backpacks.
“I have to find things to do and this is a good thing to do. I’m not Donald Trump but I have resources,” said Altschull, who has given his money and time to the project. “I wanted to do things that she enjoyed with that money.”
Altschull said the endowment will help pay for other costs during the school year, including field trips, day camps, medical supplies and standardized tests.
Donations are still being accepted for the Bright Start program. Donors can give any amount or choose to sponsor a student with a $50 donation. Donations may be sent to the Rotary Club of Fluvanna County, care of Bernie Crown, at 25 Amethyst Road, Palmyra, VA 22963.
During her career, Rose Altschull was an active supporter of at-risk children and those lacking the structure at home to put them on equal footing with their peers, according to a release written by Rose and Clifford’s daughter, Edie Elkinson.
Clifford Altschull said he hopes to carry on his wife’s legacy. “This is a long-term thing. We’re going to try to make this work for some time,” he said.