Community Corner
Students Raise $27K For Danville School Librarian With Terminal Illness: How To Help
Donations poured in after two San Ramon students started a fundraiser for their teacher's wife, a former librarian in Danville.
SAN RAMON, CA — Two California High School students helped raise more than $27,600 in less than two days to benefit the family of their English teacher, whose wife has a terminal illness and taught in Danville.
More than 400 donors contributed to the online GoFundMe fundraising campaign for teacher Ted Levey; his wife, Jessica Ringwood — a former San Ramon Valley High School librarian — and their two young children as of Thursday morning.
Students Kamran Chaudhry and Adam Wies organized the fundraiser and called Levey a "dedicated teacher, husband and father."
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The funds will benefit Ringwood and Levey's children and help cover Ringwood's medical bills, the students said on the GoFundMe page.
"Mr. Levey spends his days in the classroom working hard to pay his bills and spends his nights by his wife’s hospital bed," his students said on the site. "He worries about the future of his children, and his story breaks our hearts."
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Chaudhry and Wies lauded their teacher for continuing to show up for his students. They wanted to keep his spirits high.
"This displays his courage and love for teaching and we as a class would like to support Mr. Levey by doing what we can," they said.
Courtney Muniz, a former student, said on the GoFundMe page that Ringwood was one of her favorite teachers and that she would never forget her women's literature class.
"Jess & Ted live and teach and love generously," Karen Bonnar said on the GoFundMe page. "They bless us all. Let's do the same."
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