"Students brought in their own change or money from home and family. A lot of the older students took it upon themselves to go door-to-door and collect money or they returned bottles and brought that money in," explained Alexandra Chabot, JMG specialist.

As an incentive, the students were told that the classroom that raised the most for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society would earn a pizza party.

"It was Mr. Holyoke's 8th grade class, the same class that collected the most during our food drive. He's just a fundraising machine," said Chabot. "They collected $554.03 in pennies, dollars and checks."

But Chabot believes the students would've willingly gotten behind Pennies for Patients even if there wasn't an incentive offered.

"Because leukemia and lymphoma is so common in young adults, it hit home that they were helping kids that are just like them, and I think it meant a lot to them," said Chabot. "I think it really did teach them the value of change, too. Most people think, 'Oh it's a penny; I don't want it, it's junk, it doesn't have any value.' But it can all add up, and I think that they were impressed to see what a difference we can make together.