Morrisville, PA, February 20, 2003 – A group of selfless fourth and fifth graders at Grandview Elementary School in Morrisville, PA wanted to make a difference in their community. Under the guidance of their teacher and with a little ingenuity, they bought a gumball machine and decided to conduct a fundraiser for the Mommy’s Light Lives On Fund, which helps bring joy and comfort to young people whose mothers have life-threatening illnesses or are deceased.

"I asked the class to research organizations in our area that they would want to help and after discussing many wonderful organizations, the class decided we wanted to support Mommy’s Light," said Renee Vogel, their teacher.

"We all agreed that we wanted to help young children and this was the perfect way to do it," she added.

Ms. Vogel bought a gumball machine and suggested they fill it with M&M candies, the class’s favorite treat. Students have the opportunity to purchase the candies by placing any coins larger than a penny into the machine each day at snack time or after school.

As of mid January, they had already raised over two hundred dollars. The money Ms. Vogel’s students raise will be used to support three brothers whose mother died of breast cancer two years ago. The boys have requested to visit Springfield Mall, Springfield, PA , a place they went to eat and shop with their mother.

"We couldn’t be happier to have their support," said Laura Munts, President of Mommy’s Light.

"They are a great group of young people really learning the meaning of service," she added.

According to the results of the first 2 years of the Harvard Child Bereavement Study, surviving fathers tend to have much more difficulty than surviving mothers maintaining the daily routine and providing a sense of security that is so important to young people.

Mothers tend to be the emotional caretakers and are often better able to maintain predictability and routine. A mother’s death is likely to be associated with more complex adaptation and additional risks for children/teens than the death of a father.

Mommy’s Light is a nonprofit organization based in the Delaware Valley .

Mommy’s Light brings joy and comfort to young by helping them continue traditions or simple pleasures they did with their mothers.