A longstanding tradition of service and generosity was on display this spring as students from Brightwood School and Mark Keppel High School helped support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) during the 27th Annual Peppy’s Heart Walk fundraiser.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Alhambra and Monterey Park (AMP), the May event has raised more than $147,000 for CHLA over the past 27 years. The fundraiser is led by Joseph “Peppy” Sciarra, a 101-year-old World War II veteran whose dedication to the hospital began after CHLA helped save his young son’s life decades ago.
While the annual event celebrates Peppy’s remarkable commitment to helping others, the fundraiser has recently also highlighted the contributions of Alhambra Unified students. Representing Brightwood School, teacher Tina Young attended this year’s Heart Walk to present CHLA with artwork created from hundreds of folded origami paper cranes made by students in her class. The project, inspired by the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, has become a meaningful tradition that connects students with the hospital’s mission of bringing hope and healing to children and families.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young and her students began creating and donating crane artwork featuring the CHLA butterfly logo for display throughout the hospital. After a pause during the pandemic, the tradition resumed and continues to provide colorful reminders of encouragement for patients, families, and staff.
A Mark Keppel High School student also played an important role in this year’s fundraiser. Kaitlyn Hui, president of the school’s Interact Club, presented a $650 donation raised by club members in support of CHLA. For Hui, supporting the hospital has become a personal passion. When she was a student at Brightwood, she raised nearly $2,000 for CHLA by creating and selling handmade crocheted flowers. Now a student at Mark Keppel, she continues to champion the cause through her leadership in Interact Club and commitment to community service.
Together, the contributions from Brightwood and Mark Keppel demonstrate how students can make a difference through creativity, compassion, and service. Through artwork designed to inspire hope and crochet fundraising efforts that support lifesaving care, AUSD students continue to play an important role in carrying forward Peppy’s legacy of giving.
As the fundraiser enters its 28th year next year, the partnership between local schools, Rotary, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles remains a powerful example of a community coming together to help children in need.
