(WNY News Now) – JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – A 20-year old fundraising “Penny Wars” record was smashed by students at Jamestown High School this week. The annual fundraising competition between classes at JHS
resulted in $8,040.48 for Jamestown Public Schools students Johnny LaMancuso and Landon Tota. Both families were on hand to accept the donation from members of the JHS Student Organization following Friday morning’s assembly performance by the A Cappella Choir. Two checks were presented, both in the amount of $4,020.24.
“We are blown away by this year’s total,” said Tony Dolce, the organization’s advisor. “Penny Wars is a great JHS tradition for the last 25 years. This exceeds the previous record by over $3,000 dollars. Each year, we put on Penny Wars as a friendly competition for a good cause as a way to help someone in our school family. It’s our pleasure to be able to present this money to the LaMancuso and Tota families to help defray their various medical and travel expenses. Our thoughts continue to be with them as they both continue their recovery.”
JHS class officers are joined by the LaMancuso and Tota families to accept the check. photo by: JPS
Johnny was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, earlier this fall. He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Oishei Children’s Hospital. Landon suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall on July 4, which resulted in a stay at Oishei Children’s Hospital. He has since been transported for long-term care at a children’s hospital in Pittsburgh.
For 25 years, students have spent the holiday season raising money for a worthy cause within the JHS family, raising nearly $100,000 for various causes across the community. Students spend the month of December leading up to the last day before the holiday break raising money for the cause. All pennies count as “positive” points and all silver and dollar bills count as “negative” points. Following the annual all-school assembly concert by the A Cappella Choir on the last day of school, the winning class is announced.
Finishing in first place with $4,450.53 raised and 340,677 points was the Senior Class of 2024. The Junior Class of 2025 came in second with $1,642.32 raised and 142,050 points. Finishing in third place was the Sophomore Class of 2026 with $993.53 raised and 55,031 points. The Freshman Class of 2027 finished in last place with $296.73 raised and 8,208 points.
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