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Penny drive raises $7K
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Posted on May 11 2000
The Division of Youth Services, with help from various public and private agencies in the CNMI, raised a total of $7,208.43 in the Penny Drive 2000, a “For the Children” campaign by DYS during its Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Month last April.
Over 47 groups contributed coins for the month-long campaign with Mt. Carmel School raising the most pennies at $1,618.88.
MCS turned over all 908 pounds of coins to DYS, an offering which will benefit children in foster care.
Coming in second is Bank of Guam where both Tinian and Saipan-based employees collected over $1,000 coins.
Portion of the pennies gathered will be used to support the campaign against child abuse and neglect in the CNMI. The collected money is also seen to fill in costs of DYS services which local and federal funds fail to cover.
In the 1999 Penny Drive, DYS was able to draw half the current collection at $3,821.90 from all sectors in the community.
The annual penny drive is only one among DYS’ campaigns in creating public awareness on child welfare and the youth.
Over the years, reported cases of child abuse and neglect have dropped from a total of 750 in 1997 to 368 in 1999.
DYS Volunteer Coordinator Erna Ngirchoengor said it was because of improved services and available resources that DYS is able to perform its functions better.
According to the DYS statistical summary of people served in fiscal years 1995, the number of child physical neglect, abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse totaled to 301 cases.
This rose to some 409 cases in fiscal year 1996 until it further soared to 750 in 1997.
From 1997, however, DYS has noted a decreasing trend of abuse and neglect cases committed against children.
Ms. Ngirchoengor stressed on public awareness as the key to finally putting a stop to any of these forms of abuses. (MM)
