Help for Haiti abounds in Fox Valley Schools

Schools across the Fox Valley have begun service projects to help victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake.

At Hillcrest Elementary in Elgin, Principal Duane Meighan says Sandy Schubert's fifth-grade class has begun a fundraiser called "Hillcrest Hearts Helping Haiti."

Through Valentine's Day, students will be able to purchase hearts for 25 cents each or five hearts for a dollar. These hearts will be placed on a large banner inside of the school. All funds will benefit UNICEF, which is the largest charity supporting children.

Among many efforts going on at Elgin Community College, students, faculty and staff are currently staffing tables in the Student Resource Center hallway to collect monetary donations for earthquake victims through Feb. 5. At the college's Visual and Performing Arts Center, artists scheduled to appear over the next couple weeks have agreed to help us in our fundraising efforts at each performance, spokeswoman Heidi Healy shared in an e-mail.

From 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Intersection Stage in the ECC Arts Center lobby student organizations will hold a variety show showcasing ECC talent in support of Haiti relief. International student from Haiti, Jean Yves Molin, will help emcee the event to share his culture with the audience.

Moving over to private schools, the Fox Valley Athletic conference will host the Hoops for Haiti Girls Basketball Invitational Tuesday to Thursday, Feb. 2-4, at Elgin's Einstein Academy.

Proceeds from admission to the games will go to charities supporting Haitian relief efforts.