Emily Lauzonis ‘pooling’ her talents to raise funds at Lew-Port

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Lew-Port fourth grader Emily Lauzonis, swims at the middle school pool. She raised $1,100 for the American Red Cross. The entire school raised $10,000. Dan Cappellazzo
Lew-Port fourth grader Emily Lauzonis, swims at the middle school pool. She raised $1,100 for the American Red Cross. The entire school raised $10,000. Dan Cappellazzo

January 23, 2012

By Timothy Chipp Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Mon Jan 23, 2012, 04:58 PM EST

LEWISTON — Emily Lauzonis, a Lewiston-Porter Intermediate student, had one goal this year when it came to the Swim A Cross event which benefits the American Red Cross. She simply wanted to break her totals raised from the 2011 version.

But a couple factors made that goal slightly unrealistic, at least to normal fourth-graders.

For one, she raised $1,000 last year, a difficult number to overcome. But this year’s event was also set to be held a whole two months earlier, in January instead of March. Somehow, though, she managed to break her goal with a single total of $1,100.

“I was excited,” she said when she learned her efforts were successful.

The money, as well as the rest of the $10,000 the school raised through its 120 participants, will go to the Red Cross for disaster relief, according to Jay Bonafede, communications coordinator for the Red Cross in both Erie and Niagara counties. The money goes to help families displaced by disasters, either naturally or man-made, which provides temporary relief, he said.

“Just (Wednesday), I went out to a fire where we had three people displaced,” he said. “We gave them a check for $250. It might not seem like much, but it all adds up.”

The Swim A Cross event is one many local school districts participate in. Students get pledges, either in gross totals or per lap increments, to swim in their school’s pool. For Lauzonis, there’s a bit of an advantage to this.

“Emily’s been in the water a long time,” her mother, Colleen Lauzonis, said. “We started her young. She could save herself when she was 2 years old.”

Watching as her daughter fought through shortened deadlines to raise the money she did, Colleen said she was extremely proud of Emily and the attitude she carries herself around with despite her age.

“She does this for the right reasons,” she said. “She just wants to help other people. She’s always been a good kid like that.”

Paula Singleton, a physical education instructor at the school and one of the event’s local organizers, said she sees that characteristic in Emily as well. But it isn’t just the one student stepping up to make a difference. She said the entire district has been extremely supportive throughout the few years she’s been involved and before she arrived.

“There’s a very strong swim community here at Lew-Port,” she said. “It’s very energetic. We do a lot of activities, and the kids really enjoy (them).”

“These programs mean the world for our kids,” Principal Andrew Auer added.

But none of that really matters to the young swimmer. Emily Lauzonis said she’s just happy to be swimming.

“I just like the water,” she said with a smile, as she climbed back into the pool and swam a few more laps.

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