For most fifth-graders, winter breaks traditionally are filled with a welcome respite from school, celebrating holidays, and enjoying time with friends. But when a massive tsunami struck South Asia on December 26, many students' thoughts instead flew to brainstorming ways to help the people affected by the disaster.

When students from P.S. 87 on the Upper West side returned back to school, a group of fifth-graders organized a series of bake sales to raise money for the relief effort. Anthony Hagouel, one of the students that spearheaded the project, baked vanilla cakes and brought them in to sell. "I felt happy because I knew that we were helping people. I thought that a disaster like this could only happen every 100 years or so and it was up to us to help these people out," he said.

"We felt so sorry for all of the victims. We looked up organizations that were doing good work and decided to donate money we raised to the Red Cross," said Evelyn Buse, another one of the primary organizers. "We are so proud that we can work with a great organization like the Red Cross to help these people."

The students presented a check for $750 to the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) at a ceremony on Thursday, January 19. ARC/GNY CEO Terry Bischoff congratulated them on their hard work and altruistic behavior. "You have raised a great deal of money for a very important cause. You've proven that one person can make a difference," she told the students. "Do you feel good about yourselves?"

The auditorium full of philanthropic fifth-graders responded with a resounding, unanimous shout of "yes!"