WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- Nearly $2,000 was raised by local children at participating schools during United Way of Inner Wisconsin's sixth annual Community Change Drive from Oct. 12 to 16. Participating schools set out money jars and challenged their students to raise money for United Way of Inner Wisconsin partner programs that fall under "Helping our Children and Youth Succeed."

The results of the drive are as follows:

• Grant Elementary $373.47

• Mead Charter Elementary $310.15

• Port Edwards Elementary $55.14

• Rudolph Elementary $329.82

• Vesper Community Academy $353.05

• West Junior High FCCLA $106.51

• Woodside Elementary $416.19

Then, each school nominated two students who served on a Student Allocation Panel on Oct. 22 at River Cities Bank. There, the students discussed what they knew about each program and -- using the money they raised -- the students decided how much to allocate to each of these programs. The results of the Student Allocation Panel are as follows:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters $300.22

• Boys and Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area $322

• Club Mead $300

• Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes $350

• Samoset Council Boy Scouts $350

• South Wood County YMCA $322

This is an opportunity to introduce students to community needs and the process of allocating money to meet those needs. It also teaches youths the value of giving back to the community, through giving and volunteering. These children learned the difficult task United Way volunteers encounter every year as funding decisions are made. Additionally, these children learned how to work together as a team to make tough decisions.

Each school that participated received a certificate of recognition and a plaque; each year the schools participate they will receive a year tag for their plaque. Additionally, each student received a LIVE UNITED T-shirt. Special thanks goes to Domino's Pizza for donating pizzas for the evening, and River Cities Bank for the use of its facilities.

Contributed by Angela Loucks, campaign-communications coordinator, United Way Of Inner Wisconsin.