Ebenezer Elementary to reach $1 million raised for the American Heart Assn.

Cornwall-Lebanon School District’s Ebenezer Elementary School is set to reach the $1 million milestone in fundraising for the American Heart Association, making it the first school in Pennsylvania to do so.

Ebenezer was the first school in the district to take part in the fundraising that was previously called Jump Rope for Heart, starting in 1996, and led by physical education teacher and coach Rob Bare.

Bare helped raise thousands of dollars each year, but he said a personal loss pushed him to become even more passionate about the cause. He lost a friend and teacher at Northwest Elementary School, 40-year-old Craig Sargent, after he had a heart attack following a run on Aug. 1, 2006.

“It was tragic to everybody, but it just kind of gave me another reason to be like, ‘You know what, we need to keep doing things like this.’ I know something like this is going to happen again to people, but the less it happens, obviously, the better, so it just kind of reinforced the fact that we got to keep this going,” Bare said. “We got to try and save as many lives as we possibly can, whether it’s early detection of heart disease or whether it’s someone quitting smoking, quitting vaping, or someone that’s going to pick up exercising and eating healthier later in life just so we can cut down on the number of these tragedies that happen day in and day out.”

The challenge focuses on education and fun ways to exercise. Students learn about the importance of heart health and ways to maintain it, and it culminates with the kids spending time in the gymnasium exercising with their classmates.

“It’s a great day,” Bare said. “We come down, we listen to music, we jump rope, we celebrate the amount of money we raised at the end, [and we] recognize the top fundraisers.”

It isn’t just the physical education teachers who have created Cornwall-Lebanon’s success — it’s the entire staff and faculty. Bare said the administration has always been supportive of the program, and teachers give constant reminders to students and families to get permission slips signed.

“For children that don’t bring in a donation, our faculty and staff donate close to $2,000 every year, so we can donate $5 for every student that doesn’t bring any money in,” he said.

He said for 10 of the last 12 years, Ebenezer Elementary has had 100% of students bring in signed permission slips.

The school will join six other schools throughout the country that have surpassed the $1 million mark. It is $18,000 away from the goal, but they’ve already brought in over $30,000, so “the hay is in the barn,” according to Bare. This year’s goal is $56,000 to tie last year’s total.

“When I think about that, it almost gives me goosebumps,” he said of the $1 million. “I coach track and field and cross country, and I’ve seen 18 different state championships in my coaching career, but when we get together here on Friday, Feb. 20, in Ebenezer Elementary’s gymnasium, and we reveal $1 million in total donations in saving people’s lives, that is an accomplishment that is something to be humbled by, but something to also be proud of an excited for, and just to bring that notoriety here to little Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.”

The American Heart Association website states that donations go to funding research, advocating for healthier communities, improving patient care, and working for equitable health for all people.

“I always tell the students one of the greatest things you can do in life is to help somebody else, even if they never get a chance to return the favor, or even if they never get a chance to say thank you to you,” Bare said. “One of the greatest feelings is being that kind student, being that caring student, showing empathy to others.”

All of Cornwall-Lebanon’s elementary schools participate in the Kids Heart Challenge, and Cedar Crest High School fundraises with its annual King of Hearts event. The district brings in over $150,000 yearly for the American Heart Association.