Cows help raise cash for Saint Vincent fundraiser

Intermountain Catholic

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Two young Tibetan cows visited Saint Vincent de Paul School as part of a fundraiser arranged by second-grader Nicholas Falkner.

SALT LAKE CITY — Cows and students took to the field at Saint Vincent de Paul School on May 27 as second-grader Nicholas Falkner completed part of his "Pay It Forward" project.

The event allowed two young Tibetan cows to roam the field, which was marked with squares. The squares were "purchased" by donations. The winner was the one in whose square the first cowpie fell; the prize was 10 percent of the money collected. The rest of the money went to the "Pay It Forward" project.

Second-grade teacher Rhea Hristou created the "Pay It Forward" project to challenge her students to be entrepreneurs while giving back to society. Each student was given $5 for project expenses and asked to come up with a creative endeavor that could turn the $5 into at least $15.

All the money collected was donated to the Notre Dame Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Uganda, which helps women and children.

Falkner came up with the Cash Cow idea and sold the squares for weeks; a family friend donated the cows for the event. He raised more than $800 and treated students and parents to chocolate milk and beef jerky.

The winner of the Cash Cow event was St. Vincent fifth-grader Zach Jerome.