Auten Road Students Raise $10K for American Heart Association

A regular 40-minute gym class at Auten Road Intermediate School added up to $10,191.53 for the American Heart Association this October.

The school raised the $10,000 during its annual Hoops for Heart fundraiser by appealing to friends and family for support. Sixth-grader Allie Benadon claimed the top fundraising spot, raising $1,095 for the cause.

The fundraiser has the students shooting hoops during their regularly scheduled gym classes, and includes an added focus on the factors contributing to heart diseases and strokes, according to the district. In addition to focusing on basketball skills, the students learn about physical activity’s importance as a preventative measure, nutrition, and hereditary factors that contribute to heart problems.

“I, along with many colleagues and students, have been personally touched by heart disease and stroke. The number one and three killers in the U.S. today.” said Sylvia Scozzari, Hoops For Heart coordinator and ARIS physical education teacher. “We are passionate about teaming up with the American Heart Association to bring awareness to the ARIS community in the fight against these diseases.”

Hoops For Heart is a program that promotes physical activity, heart healthy living, and community service to students. It is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The money earned by ARIS students will be donated to the American Heart Association, an organization that funds research, programs and education to fight heart disease and stroke.