Ridge Student Council Donates $1500 To UNICEF

Whiz Kid's Name: Mariel Rondinelli, Brianna Spencer, Dante D’Agostaro and Mahan Garg - the President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer of the Ramapo Ridge Student Council

Whiz Kids’ Grades: Seventh (boys) and Eighth (girls)

Whiz Kid's School: 

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: The Student Council donated $1500 to UNICEF to benefit relief efforts in Japan 

Four Ramapo Ridge students led the school’s student council to raise $1500 to benefit UNICEF relief efforts in Japan.

“We always do so much within our school and community, so we thought, ‘why not go outside of that to help others?’” eighth grade Student Council President Mariel Rondinelli.

“Mariel initially emailed me some ideas that she had looked up about bracelets that we could buy to sell in school and donate the profits,” said the club’s advisor Courtney Levine. 

“The kids thought of this, and really took the initiative to make it happen. I am just here to guide them and set up the logistics,” Levine said.

The group sold all 500 bracelets it purchased. The council then donated the profits, $1 from each bracelet, and an extra $1000 collected from previous Student Council events, to UNICEF.

“Actually being a part of something that I know is going to help out the world felt really good,” Secretary Dante D’Agostaro, a seventh grader, said.

The student council, which is also made up of four sixth-grade executives and 48 homeroom representatives who act as liaisons between the council and the rest of the student body, sold the bracelets during lunch periods.

“I am beyond proud of them,” Levine said.

“They are a great example of a student government, and do exactly what any advisor would want – implement their own great ideas.”

The group’s next big project benefits a group closer to home – their fellow students.

A sports night and dance, complete with volleyball and a dance in the cafeteria, is planned for May 13.

“It’s going to be a great night,” VP Brianna Spencer said.