Bush Elementary School physical education teacher Jay Grann, Bush Elementary School top Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser, Max Miley, and Lincoln Elementary School physical education teacher, Chris Hammond, recently received recess equipment from Katie Kroe,Youth Market Director Buffalo/Niagara Region American Heart Association. Submitted photo

The American Heart Association recently presented a donation of $250 worth of recess equipment to Bush and Lincoln Elementary Schools for their participation in the Jump Rope for Heart. The donation was made through the generosity of Cummins Engine Co.

“We donated to Bush and Lincoln Elementary Schools because of their amazing participation Jump Rope for Heart,” said Katie Kroe, Youth Market Director Buffalo/Niagara Region American Heart Association. “This year both schools did an amazing job with Bush raising $3,773 (over $1,500 more than last year) and Lincoln raising $6,272 (over $3,000 more than last year). We are always looking for ways to give back to schools that do amazing jobs supporting us. Cummins Engine Co. earned the equipment and asked that it be donated to a local school. We thank Cummins for their generous donation.”

This is the first year the American Heart Association has made the sporting equipment donation, which included: balls, Frisbees, jump ropes, cones, bats and bases. Companies that raised money for Go Red For Woman Day (Wear Red Day) had the opportunity to participate in a “Children’s Health Challenge.” Any company that chose to participate had a set goal. If they reached, or exceeded, their goal they earned the physical education equipment to be donated to a school. Cummins Engine was one of six WNY businesses to achieve that goal this year. The American Heart Association’s mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. To do this, they want communities to come together to live heart healthy lives.

“Jump Rope For Heart is a great program that gives our students the opportunity to help other boys and girls their age who have heart conditions,” said Bush and Lincoln Elementary School physical education teachers, Jay Grann and Chris Hammond. “We are very grateful that we also have local businesses who want to help with the cause and in turn provide our students with more equipment to keep them active and healthy.”