Third-grade students of Chimacum Elementary were honored by the Chimacum School Board March 28 for using prize money they had won to help support the Jefferson Health Care Hospital.

Michelle Moseley, a third-grade teacher at Chimacum Elementary, recalled her class entered the Port Townsend Paper Corp.’s Kraft Christmas Tree Contest in December, and won one of the contest’s decorating categories.

“I shared the news with my third-graders and asked what they’d like to do with the money,” Moseley said. “Should we put it towards our next field trip? Buy something for our class to share? Split the proceeds, $1.39 each for 18 students?”

Moseley credited student David Henry with suggesting the class give the money to charity.

“With all the options, we took a class vote, and the majority chose to give the money to charity,” Moseley said. “They wanted to give it to a local charity, either a homeless shelter, an animal shelter or health care.”

A student vote decided the money would go the Jefferson HealthCare Foundation, with the request the funds go specifically toward helping cancer patients.

When Rita Hubbard, Moseley’s contact at the Port Townsend Paper Corp., heard about the students’ decision, she offered to double their donation, giving them $50 to contribute to the hospital.

“And, when folks from Jefferson HealthCare heard about our students’ generosity, they also chose to match the donation,” Moseley said. “Currently, the total proceeds donated to the Jefferson Health Care Foundation, earmarked for the oncology department, stands at $100.”

Moseley acknowledged fellow Chimacum Elementary third-grade teacher Matt Orr for creating the oversize check, which was held by four of Moseley’s students – David Henry, Haydn Apeland, Courtney White and Breanne Huntingford – during the Chimacum School Board’s March 28 meeting.