(PHOENIX) February 4, 2010 – Students in the Fowler Elementary School District are delivering a donation to the Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund on Friday, February 5 at 10:00 at the district office located at 1617 S. 67th Ave. in Phoenix.

District Superintendent Marvene Lobato challenged the 4,500 students in the district’s seven schools to raise $4,500 to help people in Haiti. They more than doubled their goal! “Our students have seen the devastation in Haiti and want to help,” says Lobato.

The children raised the money through coin drives and other creative avenues such as “buck jean day.” Children who donated a dollar were allowed to wear jeans. Lobato says many parents also made contributions. “I am overwhelmed by the response!” says Lobato.

The money will be used to help the Red Cross get vital resources such as food, clean water, tents and medical supplies to earthquake victims. The money will also help in Haiti’s long term recovery.

“We are moved by the generous hearts of Arizonans,” said Bill Epps, Grand Canyon Chapter Chief Executive Officer. Through telethons, school and business fundraisers, employee match programs, car auctions, events and individual donations, Arizonans have donated more than $400,000 to help the Haiti relief and recovery effort.

For updates on the emergency relief efforts in Haiti, visit www.arizonaredcross.org.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.