Students at Fairview Christian School are participating in a fund drive to raise $10,000 to go towards items and services for the private Christian school and its student body. The "Million Penny Drive," as the fund-raising campaign is called, began this past summer when students began saving pennies. As of mid-November, the school reports that its students have turned in nearly 38,000 pennies towards their goal.

The students will soon begin formalizing plans on what to do with their million pennies, according to a press release issued by the school. One particular idea has received much attention: a donation to the school library in honor of Linda Lyons, a Fairview teacher who is courageously battling leukemia.

"I'm extremely proud of how involved all of our students have been in this project," said Fairview Principal Pat Burris. "Knowing this student body, I'm sure there will be some very positive things done with all the money they raise."

Fairview Provost Gary Madsen said he has noticed how the students seem to be more excited by this project than past fund-raising drives. "They seem to just own it," he said. "They drag in their banks, jars and bags filled with pennies and they're just beaming by what they've accomplished thus far."

A large pink piggy bank sits on the office counter under the watchful eye of the school's office manager, Leta Brown. Students, parents and visitors have been tossing their extra pennies into the piggy bank. "We really should come up with a name for him," she said. "He's becoming quite a fixture in the office this school year."

Fairview Christian School is located at 844 NE 78th Street in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. (