Hillcrest Middle School Tops $100,000 Mark in Donations to the SWIM

Hillcrest Middle School in Trumbull has raised $104,000 for the SWIM Across the Sound. Pictured here (l to r) are Robert Pitzschler, teacher and moderator of Hillcrest National Honor Society, who organized the drive, Dr. Gary Cialfi, Assistant Superintendent of Trumbull Schools, Stephen Wright, Chair of the Trumbull Board of Education, Rosemary Seaman, Principal of Hillcrest Middle School and Michael C. Bisciglia, Vice President, St Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation.

This year’s penny drive was a special one for the Hillcrest Middle School as it broke the $100,000 mark in total donations to St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound.

After 13 consecutive coin drives, the Hillcrest students and faculty have contributed $104,000 that is placed in the Hillcrest Endowment managed by the SWIM to benefit any Trumbull student battling cancer or any other serious disease.

The officers of the Hillcrest National Junior Honor Society are: Michael Smith, Laura Bellows, Zoe Grossman, Matthew D’Ambrisi, Lily Etemad and Rebecca Smith.

Robert Pitzschler, teacher and moderator of the Hillcrest Honor Society, which organizes the penny drive each year, has hauled heavy bags of coins to the bank for counting each year. In his opinion, all the carting is worth it. In 2007, Hillcrest raised about $8,000 to benefit the endowment.

"This penny drive has snowballed over the years," Pitzschler said. "The competition between home rooms becomes quite intense as they try to be the one that raises the most money. It’s really a lot of fun."

The penny drive all started when a Hillcrest student developed leukemia and the family was in need of financial help. The idea took root; and the rest is history. Kathryn Pitzschler, Bob’s wife is a retired Hillcrest teacher and a cancer survivor. She helped launch the drive 13 years ago. After retiring three years ago, she handed the job over to her husband.

Pitzschler said the Hillcrest students adopted the SWIM as its favorite charity because of the visibly good work it does in the community. The SWIM seems to be everywhere, he said. Pitzschler recalls that he and his wife were on vacation in Europe and ran into some tourists who recognized the SWIM hats they were wearing. The Pitzschlers were surprised, but not totally stunned since the SWIM’s reputation continues to grow.

Ron Bianchi, the Presidents of St. Vincent’s Foundation, applauded the consistent generosity of the Hillcrest students and staff.

"It’s amazing how generous the Hillcrest kids have been over the years," Bianchi explained. "It’s another excellent example of how the community embraces the SWIM. We’re happy to take that money and use it to help any Trumbull student with cancer. It’s our mission."

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