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News & Photos
First Graders' Efforts Pay Off
The Howard Johnson Give Happy Challenge ended happily, although not exactly as Mary Catherine Irving's first grade class may have wanted.
The kids finished second in the national contest to reward community service efforts. They were only a few hundred votes behind Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa, Florida, whose charity will receive the $15,000 grand prize.
Had the first graders won, the prize money would have gone to the Loaves and Fishes program at St. Ignatius Church, which needs a new van to serve the homeless.
As Irving told her students after the contest ended, "You can still be winners and not come in first place."
Howard Johnson executives thought so, too.
Reported Irving in a written thank-you: "HoJos will be donating $2,500 to Loaves and Fishes at St. Ignatius Church, because the Board of Directors was so impressed with the work our first graders had done. When the head of Howard Johnsons called me earlier in the week he had many questions about McDonogh and the service work done here. Originally, second place was to get nothing!"
"I actually feel really good about the other group getting the money," she continued. "Metropolitan Ministries is a collection of 13 churches in Tampa that joined forces over 30 years ago to help the homeless. The money they have won will go towards their elementary school, where over half the students live in a shelter. They will use the money to buy clothes, food and other necessities for the children. It does sound like a great organization."
"I really do not see this as 'losing.' I am an incredible optimist and do not see this as the end. I still am hopeful that we will get a van, it is just time to think creatively!"
"So, thank you so very much for all your votes. We would not have made it so far without the votes you all cast."
The Howard Johnson Give Happy Challenge ended happily, although not exactly as Mary Catherine Irving's first grade class may have wanted.
The kids finished second in the national contest to reward community service efforts. They were only a few hundred votes behind Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa, Florida, whose charity will receive the $15,000 grand prize.
Had the first graders won, the prize money would have gone to the Loaves and Fishes program at St. Ignatius Church, which needs a new van to serve the homeless.
As Irving told her students after the contest ended, "You can still be winners and not come in first place."
Howard Johnson executives thought so, too.
Reported Irving in a written thank-you: "HoJos will be donating $2,500 to Loaves and Fishes at St. Ignatius Church, because the Board of Directors was so impressed with the work our first graders had done. When the head of Howard Johnsons called me earlier in the week he had many questions about McDonogh and the service work done here. Originally, second place was to get nothing!"
"I actually feel really good about the other group getting the money," she continued. "Metropolitan Ministries is a collection of 13 churches in Tampa that joined forces over 30 years ago to help the homeless. The money they have won will go towards their elementary school, where over half the students live in a shelter. They will use the money to buy clothes, food and other necessities for the children. It does sound like a great organization."
"I really do not see this as 'losing.' I am an incredible optimist and do not see this as the end. I still am hopeful that we will get a van, it is just time to think creatively!"
"So, thank you so very much for all your votes. We would not have made it so far without the votes you all cast."