For over 30 years, MICDS has hosted the Kids Heart Challenge and has supported the American Heart Association in their efforts to cure heart disease. In each of these years, students and families brought in donations and contributed to community service efforts to help the cause.
The Kids Heart Challenge involves 85,000 students in 555 schools and it has raised over $1.4 million in donations in Missouri. This year, the Heart Association decided to award the top schools as well as some individual volunteers for their effort in making the Kids Heart Challenge a special event at their school.
These awards are all about celebrating the time, passion, energy, and commitment to inspiring others. This year, Lower School PE Teachers Susan Orlando and Jim Lohr were nominated for « Volunteers of the Year » and MICDS was nominated for « School of the Year. » The nominees must have an outstanding passion for their school’s event by incorporating faculty, community, classroom challenges, and some very creative incentives – all while growing participation and engagement.
« We were very flattered by the nomination for Volunteers of the Year, » said Orlando. MICDS placed 4th as School of the Year by the Heart Association, thanks to the dedication and planning by our Lower School PE faculty. « Both Mr. Lohr and I would like to give a sincere thanks to the dozens of MICDS families who have supported the Jump Rope for Heart and now the Kids Heart Challenge over the years. We would not be able to do any of this without such a wonderful community. »
