Watchung Students Show Their Big Hearts

Students in Mrs. Donovan’s first grade class at Watchung Elementary School in Montclair showed their big hearts by selecting the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) as the beneficiary of their “penny wars” competition so that they could help kids with cardiomyopathy, a chronic and potentially life-threatening heart disease.

An estimated 30,000 children in the United States are living with cardiomyopathy, and it is believed that there are just as many undiagnosed children because symptoms are not always obvious. Getting more children with cardiomyopathy properly diagnosed and treated is a priority for CCF, a national organization founded by New Jersey mom Lisa Yue, who lost two sons to cardiomyopathy.

“I am very proud of my students for choosing such a deserving children’s charity,” said Watchung teacher Mrs. Donovan. “So many times, we hear of a child collapsing on a soccer field or during another sports activity, and cardiomyopathy is often the cause. I am so glad that our class is helping a foundation that is working to raise awareness and find a cure for this disease.”

CCF is actively working with New Jersey Senators Mendez and Laughtenberg and Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ6) on the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Risk Assessment and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act to increase awareness of cardiomyopathy and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among parents, schools and health professionals. Often under diagnosed, cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in children.

The Watchung penny wars not only helps students learn about currency and counting, but it also teaches them the importance of giving back. Jars for each class are lined up outside the main office for coin collection. Each week, students count their totals and the winning class receives a prize. At the end of the penny wars, each class donates the money they collect to the charity of their choice. 

“Donations from children are really special to our Foundation as they come straight from the heart,” says Lisa Yue, CCF president and founder. “We greatly appreciate Watchung first graders and Mrs. Donovan for their efforts in raising money for CCF. Every penny counts in our search for a cure.”

About The Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation

The Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to finding causes and cures for pediatric cardiomyopathy. CCF started in 2002 with one family’s determination to call attention to this poorly understood heart disease and to take action on the lack of medical progress and public awareness. Since then, CCF has grown into a global community of families, physicians and scientists focused on improving diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for children affected by cardiomyopathy, and has committed more than $1.7 million to research and treatment initiatives.