O'Brien Tech Students Collect over 20 Pounds of Pop-Tops to Benefit Kids with Cancer

Students and faculty at Emmett O'Brien have popped their tops to help Ronald MacDonald House Charities for children with critical ailments and their families. The Emmett O'Brien family brought in pop-tops and deposited them in gallon containers in the cafeteria and in the science deparment.  The Pop Top Collection brought in 400 million pop tabs nationwide.  This translated into $4,000,000 for the Ronald MacDonal House Charities.  The collection began on St. Patrick's Day and ended on April Fools' Day. 

Students and faculty learned that a bit of effort can go a very long way to help kids with cancer. Science Instructor Richard Diachenko spearheaded this EOB initiative. " The momentum to collect took on a life of its own.  Mr. Diachenko's leadership, compassion and determination has resulted in an entire student body becoming acutely aware of how one act and one person can change many lives for the better." commented Social Studies Instructor Terry Orlowski.  She added," We are blessed to have such a civic minded teacher and such a giving student body and staff at Emmett O'Brien."

Collecting the pop tabs turned into a poignant lesson about philanthropy, the importance of recycling, and raising funds to help others.  Some of the Chapters raised thousands of dollars with their pop tab collections.

Ronald McDonald Houses collect pop tabs instead of entire aluminum cans because the tabs are pure high-quality aluminum, unlike cans, which consist of aluminum and other alloys.  Tabs are also easier to store than whole cans.

Mr. Diachenko coordinated the drive with another school district in Connecticut to expand this effort to reach more students, teachers and parents. Assistant Principal Edward Kennedy set the example by being one of the first to get involved with a ring of pop-tops. 

Many students took the time to bring in bags full or to pop a top off a container during lunch.  Special recognition went to the Junior Plumbing students who delivered a five gallon container full of pop-tops.  Congratulations were showered upon those students who made the effort to make this two week drive a success.

The first Ronald McDonald House (RMHC) opened in Philadelphia in 1974 thanks to Dr. Audrey Evans, Philadelphia Eagles' player Fred Hill (whose daughter, Kim, had leukemia), Jim Murray, the general manager and Ed Rensi, the McDonald's regional manager.  In 1984 Ronald McDonald House Charities was officially established in memory of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, a strong advocate for children.  The Ronald McDonald House program has grown to 271 houses in 30 countries.

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.  The RMHC focuses on the critical needs of children. Ronald McDonald House programs offer rooms for families of pediatric patients under 21 years old.  Children from birth to 18 or (21), depending on the house), who are being treated at nearby hospitals and medical facilities, and their families are eligible. 

"In a short period of time between St. Patrick's Day and april Fool's Day the students really came through to help kids with cancer.  A little effort in the cafeteria and at home went a long way to collect pounds of tabs for this admirable cause."  said Mr. Diachenko.

From left to right: Chad Sweeney (Class of 2012), Gary Bitto (Class of 2010) and Shane Sweeney (Class of 2010)