Westford Fifth Graders Organize Fundraiser to Save the Tigers

A couple of fifth graders at Westford’s Norman E. Day School are working together to help protect the environment of some big cats that live very far away.

Henry Sawyer founded Students for the Prevention of Tiger Extinction (S.P.T.E.) in spring 2015 after working on a school report about tigers and learning how close the animals are to extinction. Since then, he and classmate Isaac Bollen, sponsored by the school and will the coordination of Principal Kevin Regan, have raised almost $700 on behalf of S.P.T.E. They’ve contributed those monies directly to Panthera’s Save the Tiger Fund.

S.P.T.E.’s newest fundraiser kicked off on Jan. 20 and runs through Feb. 29. Tigers Forever is an effort of Panthera that the Westford philanthropists are bringing to a local level. A box for donations, cash or checks made out to Panthera, is located in the lobby at Norman E. Day School. Be sure to include your name and contact info with your check.

Tigers Forever’s specific goal is “increase tiger numbers by at least 50 percent over a 10-year period,” according to Panthera’s website.

In Westford, individuals who donate will receive prizes at specific levels (check out the fundraising page for a list of prizes)

Previous fundraising efforts included a 10k race with an online fundraising page as well as operating a booth at the Westford Farmers Market.

Photo: S. Taheri, Wikiedia Commons