Panda Lead Corporate Sponsor:
Purchase Panda Cam, a book with images of Tai Shan's first seven months, at the National Zoo Store.
Thanks to Winners and All Participants
Congratulations to four special children, selected from among 159 entrants across the country, who have won our Pennies for Pandas contest.
FONZ hosted "Pennies for Pandas" in celebration of the birth of male giant panda cub, Tai Shan, at the Zoo on July 9. Cosponsored by lead panda corporate sponsor Fujifilm and exclusive media sponsor Animal Planet, the contest generated more than $16,000 by children in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
We were truly overwhelmed by the inventive, fun, and incredibly creative ideas thought up by children from Juneau, Alaska, to McKinney, Texas. Children created black-and-white jewelry, purses, and candles, made posters, activity books, masks, and bookmarks, and baked many, many panda-themed treats. They dressed up as pandas, developed educational slide shows, sold artwork, and got their communities involved in both raising money and awareness for endangered species.
We were moved by the dedication of many participants, such as seven-year-old Autumn Asen, of Boca Raton, Florida, who wrote: "Hurricane Wilma knocked the power and phones out of our house so I made beaded jewelry to sell. I walked around the fallen trees and sold to neighbors."
We were also impressed by some young business-savvy participants, such as Laura Rund of Bloomington, Indiana. Laura enlisted corporate support by writing to the Pillsbury Company, suggesting they produce a panda cookie to sell nationwide.
It's clear that so many children poured their hearts into this project and we are so grateful for all of their wonderful efforts. We hope that all of our participants will continue to care about wildlife conservation and to support our nation's Zoo. We also hope that they enjoyed the process of developing their entrepreneurial skills and putting them to good use in our fundraising challenge!
Winners in the age group 6-10:
"Productive Panda" (most money raised)
Kelsey Hicks, 9, of Evansville, Indiana
Kelsey made black-and-white bracelets and collected donations in panda-decorated coffee cans at her school and area businesses. She raised $659.89!
"Creative Cub"
Riley Burfeind, 9, of Falmouth, Maine
Riley created and hosted a "Panda Fun Festival" in her backyard featuring panda coloring pages and crafts, board games with educational panda facts, and black-and-white snacks. She decorated her backyard with black and white balloons, made panda-themed invitations, and asked her guests to wear black and white. She collected donations at the event, totaling $123.43!
Winners in the age group 11-14:
"Productive Panda" (most money raised)
Brittany Luckett, 11, of Citrus Heights, California
Brittany sold panda pins, necklaces, and magnets in a "Pennies for Pandas" boutique at her mother's jewelry store. She also baked and sold Panda Krispies, designed and sold panda cards and ornaments, and donned a panda costume every weekend for five weeks, to collect donations in her neighborhood. She raised an astonishing $1,224.30!
"Creative Cub"
Jonathan Gordon, 13, of Orlando, Florida
Jonathan spent many hours cutting out panda patterns and felt pieces, then ironing, stuffing and assembling hand-made pillows. He sold these special pillows and made $240!
Each of our winners will receive a trip for four to Washington, D.C., for a private visit with the giant pandas at the Zoo's Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and a chance to see four-month-old cub Tai Shan before his official public debut. The winners' trips to Washington will include round-trip airfare provided by American Airlines and a two-night stay in the Omni Shoreham Hotel. All four winners also will receive a Fujifilm camera, an Animal Planet gift pack, a personalized certificate, and a giant panda plush. Each winner received a congratulatory phone call from Zoo Director John Berry.
Runners Up
In each category, a runner up was also selected. They will receive a Fujifilm QuickSnap camera, a panda plush, a photo of Tai Shan, and a giant panda video CD-ROM. Our runners up include:
Ages 6-10
"Productive Panda" runner up: Jackson Lee, age 8, Katonah, New York. Jackson made and sold some delectable panda cookies (thanks for sending us one!) and raised $550!
"Creative Cub" runner up: Lydia Brown, age 10, Forest, Virginia. Lydia held a "pandacure" (black & white manicure) spa party at her house. At the party her guests also watched panda videos and read panda books.
Ages 11-14
"Productive Panda" runner up: April King, age 14, Ft. Myers, Florida. April sold mini pieces of bamboo outside of a local Wal-Mart, then asked a local pet store to provide a matching donation. A special thanks to her corporate partners, Pet Kingdom. April raised $416!
"Creative Cub" runner up: Victoria Pfadt, age 11, Erie, Pennsylvania. Tori conducted a "Panda Tracks—Walking for the Pandas" fundraiser. She dressed up as a panda and left a special poem, along with other panda items, at neighbors' houses in exchange for a donation. She even delivered panda cookies to thank her donors.
We would also like to recognize some other impressive entries.
Honorable Mentions
Sam Besse, age 9, Laurel, Maryland. Sam wrote, printed and sold a panda newspaper, The Panda Post, which he sold at recess to his fellow elementary school students. He also organized a raffle and had his entire school vote for the cub's name, resulting in a donation of $356.
Emma Hollander Blake, age 7, Richmond, Virginia. Emma wrote an inspiring story called "The Little Panda." She also thanked her customers with handmade bookmarks and acted in a panda play for her grandparents.
Hayley Cohen, age 10, Rockville Centre, New York. Hayley spoke to six classes at her school. She made a PowerPoint presentation to teach kids about pandas and then created 30 prizes to give to kids who donated 20 pennies. Her prizes included a panda purse, panda bobblehead, puppets, and pins, and raised an amazing $285.
Catherine Davis, age 10, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Catherine built an award-winning panda robot named "Ling Ling" that moves and speaks. Congratulations to Catherine, whose robot is now on display at a museum.
Matthew DeRogatis, age 9, Toms River, New Jersey. Matthew partnered with a local bank and set up a booth to sell lollipops. His slogan was “Buy a Pop, Help a Panda� and made posters and coloring sheets. He also sold bubble gum and pencils imprinted with a "Pennies for Pandas" message.
Krista Duffield, age 9, Tucson, Ariznoa. Krista asked that her friends make a donation to the Zoo's Giant Panda Conservation Fund, instead of bringing her a birthday gift. She raised $465. (Her birthday is also the same day as our panda Tian Tian.)
Audrey Fleeger, age 6, Renfrew, Pennsylvania. Audrey created an eBay auction to sell her panda artwork.
Sage Fotiades, age 7, of Wakefield, Rhode Island. Sage sold hand-painted panda pumpkins—a festive and creative idea.
Jane Havron, age 7, Huntsville, Alabama. Jane rented a room at a local ice skating rink and advertised her "panda daycare." She cared for friends' pandas while they skated.
Hannah Meyer, age 11, Bethesda, Maryland. Hannah created a "pandaland," inviting friends and family to make a panda craft, take a panda quiz, play pin the tail on the panda, and take home a pom-pom panda magnet.
Lindsey Morreale, age 12, Douglas, Massachusetts. Lindsey displayed posters in area stores and collected bottles and cans for recycling. She helped the environment while raising Pennies for Pandas.
Hannah Lynn Parker, age 8, Ashburn, Virginia. Hannah made bear-shaped and black and white soaps, along with Asian-themed sopas such as green tea soap, massage bars, and fortune soaps. She even named the soaps "Rubba Dub Dub Save the Panda in the Tub" and raised $420.
Cody Marie Rowan, age 8, Sterling Heights, Michigan. She created and sold an educational, fun, multi-page panda activity book.
Ashley Schlegel, age 12, Paisley, Florida. Ashley embroidered pandas on aprons, towls and shirts, and also sold panda calendars.
Harmony Rose Soto, age 8, Boise, Idaho. Harmony considers herself the ultimate "panda fan," so she made paper panda fans and wrote educational facts on the back. She raised $150.
Jonathan Sutton, age 11, Bozeman, Montana. Jonathan collected a wide variety of panda-themed items for a raffle basket and sold it at his local grocery store for more than $200.
Emily Rose Varady and Ashley Fae Smith, age 9, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Emily and Ashley sold bookmarks, bracelets, and brownies, decorated pumpkins, and set up a booth at a local farmer's market to raise money. They raised an incredible $490.
Thanks to Everyone
We are very grateful to all of our participants, who took the time to take part in the Pennies contest. Congratulations and thank you to all of the entrants below:92nd Street Y, New York City, New York
Gabrielle Abreau, 8, Saugus, California
Sasha Sophia Sky Ackerman, 5, Warrenton, Virginia
Long Adams, 9, Findlay, Ohio
Brevin Allen, 10, Kokomo, Indiana
Amanda Applequist, age 11, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Marianne Araneda, 11, Weston, Florida
Autumn Bean Asen, 7, Boca Raton, Florida
Ashley Avelleyra, Lewes, Delaware
Bailey Station Elementary School Fourth Grade Class, Collierville, Tennessee
Samantha Bensel, 8, Ventura, California
Emily Lynn Bowman, 10, South Bend, Indiana
Juliana and Gabe Brown, 4 and 11, Washington, D.C.
Mariah Brown, 10, Parkland, Florida
Beatriz Carias, 8, Elk Grove, California
Alex C. Carlson, 11, Auburn, Massachusetts
Joy Wenfang Gleason Carveth, 10, Charlottesville, Virginia
Beth Ceraldi, 13, Huntsville, North Carolina
Nicole Chang, 11, Diamond Bar, California
Carly Ciociola, 11, Clearwater, Florida
Madison Cissell, 6, Versailles, Kentucky
Sean Patrick Coleman, 6, Wrentham, Massachusetts
Amber Conklin, 11, Waverly, Iowa
Erica Lindsey Coslop, 8, Millville, New Jersey
Chloe Craft, 10, Oswego, Illinois
Marissa Cunningham, 9, St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania
Rebecca Czajkowski, 9, Granby, Connecticut
Jessica DeRoche, 10, Levant, Maine
Jordan Dewar, 7, Takoma Park, Maryland
Anne Donnelly and Mary Bryan, 13, Arlington, Virginia
Megan Downey, 11, Bemidjo, Minnesota
Lillian Durant, 6, Wilmington, North Carolina
Christa Edmonson, 9, Poulsbo, Washington
Evan Erickson, Battle Ground, Washington
Augusta Eswine, 8, Savannah, Georgia
Noelle Fernandez, 11, McKinney, Texas
Shauna Findley, 9, Ingleside, Illinois
Amber Fischbach, 12, Trenton, Missouri
Kali Foy, 10, Newfoundland, Pennsylvania
Frances E. Frausto, 11, El Paso, Texas
Isabella Friedrichs, 11, Jefferson, Louisiana
Jessica Galardini, 11, Batavia, Illinois
Ileta Galau, 11, Juneau, Alaska
Heath Garson, 12, Falmouth, Maine
Melissa and Kailyn Gillick, 8, Nanuet, New York
Kayla Gilmore, 11, Reddick, Florida
Sasha Glass and Hannah Restarits, 8, Salt Lake City, Utah
Timothy Glos, 12, South Elgin, Illinois
Jessica Gonsiewski, 9, Stow, Ohio
Jos Gradstein, 11, Santa Barbara, California
Hailey Green, 10, Seattle, Washington
Colette Hamwey, 10, Carmel, California
Stephanie Handley, 11, Lancaster, New York
Serena Hare, 10, Manchester, Maryland
Morgan Havron, 10, Huntsville, Pennsylvania
Nick Heath, 10, Seaside, Oregon
Anneliese Hoerr, 14, Phoenix, Arizona
Stephanie Holtje and Jolee Skinner, 9 and 10, Monroe Twp, New Jersey
Melinda Rose Houtman, 6, Madison, Wisconsin
Sydney Huddleston, 11, San Marcas, Texas
Keith Hughes, 10, Loganville, Georgia
Aly Huppertz, 12, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Eden Jablon, 10, West Hollywood, California
Leah Jurland, 9, North Reading, Massachusetts
Katie Karas, 12, Fairfax Station, Virginia
Rachael Kazdan, 9, Hilton, New York
Luke Giampqoio Keener, 9, Reisterstown, Maryland
Mikey Kikta, 10, Rockford, Illinois
Ashlee Kimmell, 13, Avon, Indiana
Becca Knodell, 10, Naperville, Illinois
Kathryn Knoerl, 11, Manassas, Virginia
Matt Kuhn, 14, Schoolcraft, Michigan
Sabria Lynn Lamb, 14, Clinton, Utah
Mariah Land, 13, Utica, New York
Rebecca Laszczyk, 14, Wiconisco, Pennsylvania
Rebecca Victoria Lempereur, 10, Bethel, Connecticut
Annie Liskow, 10, Dallas, Texas
Sara Lutterman, 13, Hudson, Wisconsin
Meredith C. Lutz, 10, Centennial, Colorado
Jordan Macomber, 8, Egg Harbor Twp., New Jersey
Camille Manantan, 11, Tracy, California
Lisa Marcson, 12, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Aida Marin, 12, Berkeley, California
Lisa Marie Markins, 10, Mequon, Wisconsin
Monica Martinez and Gianna Fimiano, 10, Weston, Florida
Venus C. Martinez, 11, Pueblo West, Colorado
Katie McGeoch, 10, Argyle, New York
Brigid McPhilamy, 10, South Riding, Virginia
Emily Mensching, 10, Itasca, Illinois
Katie Metro and Katie McCool, 8, Arlington, Virginia
Brandon Michael Mitchell, 10, Owensboro, Kentucky
Mariah Mitchell, 14, Lynnwood, Washington
Rachel Montanez, 5 ½, Longwood, Florida
Stacey Mooney, 8, Sayre, Pennsylvania
Kelly Marie Moore, 11, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Ashlyn B. Nobles, 11, Warner Robbins, Georgia
Marina and Natasha Nogueira, Ben Paulik, ages 13, 11, 11, Santa Cruz, California
Elena Okubo, Foster City, California
Amanda McGinnis, 11, Manahawkin, New Jersey
Pack 175, 8-9, Toms River, New Jersey
P.J. Pahygiannis, 9, Olney, Maryland
James Palmer, 11, Ithaca, New York
Camille Peters, Sacramento, California
Sara Philibotte, 10, Laconia, New Hampshire
Alexa Plowde and Jelena Mustapic, 10, Glastonbury, Connecticut
Lauren Ratzlaff, 10, H.B., California
Emily Redman, 8, Covington, Virginia
Sarah Redmond, 8, Monroe, Connecticut
Tyler Rice, 12, Wheeling, West Virginia
Sara Rivera, 10, Cary, North Carolina
Quenia Romano, 12, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Teresa Romney, 10, West Bountiful, Utah
Erin Roth, 6, Northglenn, Colorado
Laura Rund, 10, Bloomington, Indiana
Alexandra Sachs, 10, Rockville, Maryland
Zavier Santiago, 12, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Samantha Sarraf, 7, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Katie Schilling, 13, Roseville, California
Marissa M. Schmauch, 11, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Adrienne Schwartz, 8, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Vivienne Shaw, 11, Potomac, Maryland
Leah Shirley, 11, Greenville, North Carolina
Helen Shope, 11, Whittier, California
Signal Hill Elementary School—all 911 students! Manassas, Virginia
Stephanie Silva, 9, Phoenix, Arizona
Jimmario Simmons, 13, Huntersville, North Carolina
Megan E. Smith, 14, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Elise Sobatka, 12, Bellevue, Washington
Renee A. Stewart, 12, Moreno Valley, California
Hannah Strempke, 11 1/2, Fair Oaks, California
Molly Suttle, 10, Austin, Texas
Chloe Tamula, 9, Shelbyville, Tennessee
Cheyenne Turcotte, 13, Kemmerer, Wyoming
Two Rivers Girl Scouts Troop 342, 6-8, Macomb, Illinois
Sam Wheeler Smith, 9, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Amanda Wild, 8, Robert Park, California
Kami Winter, 6, Wayland, Massachusetts
Dianne Wojnarowski, 44, Buffalo, New York
Leah Wright, 10, Fernadeina Beach, Florida
Blake Yoder, 6, Winchester, Virginia
Seth Yow, 13, Prattville, Alabama
Kelly Taylor Zindel, 10, Randolph, New Jersey
Arianna Zoghi, 8, Arlington, Virginia
