Glen Cove H.S. Organizes “City 2 City” Campaign

Story and Photos by Rosemary Leonetti.

After Superstorm Sandy devastated the south shore of Long Island, the Glen Cove High School student government decided to reach out to help Long Beach Public Schools by organizing the City 2 City fundraiser to help Long Beach families.

The high school held Coin Wars, pitting one grade against the other in a friendly competition to collect the most pocket change to help their Long Beach counterparts. In addition, they collected toys, books and school supplies, and also donated the proceeds from their recent dinner theater production of “Little Women.”

With the money they raised, totaling $2,000 so far, they purchased gift cards that can be distributed to Long Beach families in need. They also involved the Glen Cove elementary schools by asking students throughout the district to donate one dollar to add a link to a blue and white paper chain — the Long Beach school colors — filled with good wishes for a speedy post-Sandy recovery. Still in the works are a bracelet fundraiser and a Zumbathon.

To make the gift more personal, the students traveled to Long Beach High School with their adviser Jason Bieder and Principal Dr. Joseph Hinton to deliver their gifts in person. Waiting to greet them were a dozen Long Beach student government representatives and other school leaders, who gratefully accepted their donations and shared stories about their experiences in the aftermath of the storm. They also presented the Glen Cove students with a plaque acknowledging their generosity.


“Since Glen Cove and Long Beach are the only two cities on Long Island, we felt a special bond with Long Beach,” said Glen Cove High School student council representative Paulo Coelho. “Many Glen Cove teachers also live in Long Beach. After Hurricane Sandy, it  seemed like the right thing to do to show them that we care.”