LAMORINDA WEEKLY | The Burton Valley AIM class rallies behind teacher to raise money for California Breast Cancer Research Program


Burton Valley Elementary students present a check to CBCRP after a highly successful Book Bonanza. Photos provided

The Book Bonanza is an annual fundraiser and long-standing tradition at Burton Valley Elementary School. Every year, the AIM class collects, prices, and, of course, sells books ... at incredibly low prices (some books are as cheap as 5 cents). All proceeds go to a charitable cause, and this year the students chose to support their teacher's current battle with breast cancer and donate their earnings to the California Breast Cancer Research Program. In partnership with the University of California, the mission of CBCRP is to prevent and eliminate breast cancer through innovative research, communication, and collaboration in the California scientific and lay communities.

The whole class banded together to complete each step in the process, and after three weeks of collections and pricing of over 6,000 books, the three-day sale was on! Classes from the Burton Valley community came to support the AIM class, buying books, handmade bookmarks and origami, and dropping in donations to the donation jar. After the frenzy, the students counted their change bags and were thrilled to realize they had surpassed their goal and raised a record-high amount of $1,600.21. The students presented a check to Mhel Kavanaugh-Lynch of CBCRP right before winter break. They felt good about the positive impact their donation will make in the fight against breast cancer and thank the Burton Valley community for their support.