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8-year- old reigns as Math-a-thon champion
By LOGAN NEILL © St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2001 Every year, several Hernando County elementary schools take part in a special fundraising event called Math-a-thon, which benefits the nationally renowned St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. During the event, students gather pledges from family and friends, take a short math quiz, and celebrate their contribution to the community. Some students get flat pledges from donors; others tie the pledges to the number of problems they solve on the quiz. It's a fun activity that typically raises a few hundred dollars per school. But for the past two years, Eastside Elementary has been the undisputed champion in the countywide endeavor, thanks largely to the efforts of one student. This year, 8-year-old Gabe Patrick topped the donor list by handing over a check for $1,016, more than double what the rest of the school raised. For his efforts, Gabe received several prizes, including a CD player and a pair of passes to a theme park. But it is obvious when you talk to Gabe that his motivation comes from a far deeper desire -- an inner need to help children get well. "On TV they show you kids in the hospital, and it's really sad because they can't go outside and play or do anything really fun because they are so sick," said the second-grader. "Hopefully, the money I raised can help them get better so they can be like regular kids." Gabe's extraordinary charity is well-known throughout Eastside. As a first-grader last year, he was also the top Math-a-thon contributor, collecting more than $500 in pledges. He figured he could at least duplicate that effort this year. "He just goes out and beats the bushes," said Eastside resource teacher Jaunita Looper, who organizes the event every year. About 170 pupils participated in this year's effort, but no one came close to topping Gabe's efforts. "It's not a competitive thing for him," Looper said. "He gets a lot of help from his family because they know it's something he truly believes in." Knowing that the Math-a-thon was coming up in April, Gabe began gathering pledges in February. He coaxed a few dollars from his parents, uncles and aunts. However, he says his father and grandfather helped the most. "They got some companies to give money, and they asked their friends at work, too," Gabe said. "I guess I was a good salesman." Although math is not his favorite subject, Gabe felt he gave a pretty good effort when it came to the test part of the fundraising endeavor. His pledges were not tied to his score on the test. "I got about a hundred points," he said. "Some of the problems were a little hard, but it was pretty fun to do." Gabe says he's not about to stop, either. In fact, he's already talking to family and friends about next year's effort with plans of raising most of his contributions by himself. Gabe Patrick, 8, lives in BrooksvilleParents: Martin and Jacky Patrick Favorite subject: Reading Hobby: Reading
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From today's Hernando Times |
