National honoree

Dollar by dollar, a poor town declares education is important

 

Fall River, Mass. Kheary Reth, 13, helps string 7,500 "Make A Difference Day Dollars," each representing a real dollar raised for college scholarships. The 3/4-mile-long string of dollars excited and inspired the youth in a town where higher education is uncommon.

n a struggling town where half the adults lack a high school diploma, Make A Difference Day sent a powerful message giving youngsters encouragement -- and the means -- to attend college: On Oct. 24, Fall River raised $7,500 for college scholarships for its students. The project was meant to be visible: Volunteers in the town's rich ethnic mix (Cambodian, Puerto Rican, Portuguese) rallied, paraded and stretched a chain of 7,500 "Make A Difference Day Dollars" three-quarters of a mile from the town high school to a community college.

Miss Massachusetts Elizabeth Hancock, who pitched in as part of the Miss America Organization's national partnership with Dollars for Scholars, told the crowd she wouldn't be studying at Harvard without the help of scholarships. As he stapled "cash" onto a ribbon of yellow police tape, Sambath Rim, executive director of the Cambodian Community of Greater Fall River, said, "It is important to build up education. It is the future." And the future began to improve on Make A Difference Day: "The children got very excited. They had more faith." $10,000 award from Paul Newman opens a perpetual scholarship through the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America.

Paul Newman funds awards

The actor and founder of the food company Newman's Own Inc. gives $10,000 to the charities of each of the 10 Make A Difference Day Award recipients. This is Newman's fifth year as a Make A Difference Day supporter; his contributions to local charities through this day total $500,000. He will give another $100,000 to charities of participants in the next Make A Difference Day, Oct. 23.

Newman, who donates 100% of after-tax profits from Newman's Own to charitable and educational causes.