Every month, students at Buehrle Academy take on a new challenge not for grades, but for good. Students are invited to participate in a service initiative that makes a difference. This May, that tradition took on new meaning as students went all in for Autism Awareness Month by bringing back a much-loved event: Penny Wars.
Divided into four teams, students spent the first half of the month collecting pennies to raise money for a local cause. Then came the twist: silver coins could be used to sabotage other teams’ totals. It was competitive, energetic, and fun to the very last coin, but what mattered most wasn’t who won. What mattered was the why behind the game.
While the competition was fierce, students never lost sight of the bigger picture. Under the guidance of administrative assistant Kimberly Rodriguez, who organizes Buehrle’s monthly service projects, this year’s Penny Wars had a clear and heartfelt purpose: to support Andrew’s Gift, a local nonprofit that assists individuals and families living with autism.
Over the course of the month, students raised $106 entirely in change, all in pennies! But what was even more inspiring was the way students embraced the why behind the project. They were learning what it means to support inclusion, communication, and dignity for all.
Their donation to Andrew’s Gift will directly support an app that helps non-verbal children communicate with their families something many of our students found both meaningful and moving. They asked thoughtful questions. They reflected on the importance of having a voice. And they took pride in knowing that their actions, no matter how small, could make a big difference in someone else’s life.
When Dorothy Ward, co-founder of Andrew’s Gift, visited Buehrle to accept the donation, she shared the story of her son, Andrew John Ward, Jr., whose diagnosis of autism in 1991 inspired the creation of the foundation. At the time, autism was rarely understood and often misdiagnosed. But Dorothy’s determination to challenge those limitations and provide Andrew with the tools and therapies he needed led to a transformational journey one that continues today through the work of Andrew’s Gift.
The foundation provides grant funding to families in Lancaster and surrounding counties who are navigating the financial challenges of raising a child with autism. From communication devices to therapy support, these grants help bridge gaps in access and opportunity.
For Buehrle students, they were able to see the real-world impact of their generosity and understand how something as simple as a penny can become part of something much bigger.
We’re proud of Team 2, the 7th and 8th graders, who took home the win this year. But we’re even more proud of the entire student body for showing what it looks like when a school community comes together with empathy and purpose.
At Buehrle, service learning isn’t a once-in-a-while event. It’s part of who we are. And this May, our students reminded all of us that with a little creativity, a lot of heart, and a few hundred pennies, even the youngest among us can help build a more inclusive and compassionate world.