Tyrone Area High School’s Youth Action Network is holding its annual “Pennies 4 Panzi” Fundraiser from now until February 19.
However, the fundraiser is being organized a little differently this year.
Instead of the usual containers in specific teachers’ classrooms and becoming a competitive game among the class periods, YAN club members will carry containers to collect money from peers.
All YAN club members have assigned themselves teams and a team leader has volunteered to carry it while collecting coins and cash. It gets the fundraiser outside the classroom and helps spread the word to others.
New YAN advisors Lindsey Kanuch and Stacie Greenleaf hope this new approach will raise more awareness and money for this worthy cause.
“We hope the competition style will help students be more engaged and competitive, ultimately leading to higher participation and donations. We also wanted the responsibility to fall more on the students and less on the teachers,” said Kanuch.
This fundraiser directly benefits the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing vital support to those in need.
Pennies, silver coins, and paper bills will all be collected, however, they will have different point values for the teams.
Pennies add one point each to the given team. Silver coins deduct points depending on their value. Quarters deduct 25 points, dimes deduct 10, and nickels deduct 5. Bills work the same however they are of more value. A one-dollar bill adds 100 points, a 5-dollar bill adds 500 points, a 10-dollar bill adds 1000, and a 20-dollar bill adds 2000.
Tyrone High School is the longest-supporting high school student group of the Panzi Foundation in the world.
The hospital’s founder, Dr. Denis Mukwege, was the recipient of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for the work that he does at the hospital.
Dr. Mukwege and his staff have treated over 70,000 women survivors of wartime rape and acts of violence, and their children. The average woman in these kinds of hospitals has to endure multiple surgeries which means being in the hospital for a year or more.
“Every coin and dollar donated makes a real difference in the lives of women and children at Panzi Hospital. These survivors have endured unimaginable hardships, and our support helps fund their medical care, counseling, education, and job training—giving them a chance to rebuild their lives,” said Greenleaf. “Even small contributions add up to something life-changing when we work together.”
Since the annual fundraiser began, YAN has raised over $17,000 for Panzi Hospital. To continue to support this cause, Tyrone High School classes are asked to donate as much of their spare change as possible.
“Pennies for Panzi is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a chance for our school community to make a meaningful impact on a global issue. Our donations don’t just help individual survivors—they strengthen entire communities,” said Greenleaf. “This fundraiser also helps students develop empathy, global awareness, and a sense of activism, showing them that even small actions can create lasting change.”
