Staff Reports
Kiwanis-sponsored Key Clubs and Columbus East and North high schools have announced the winners of the pop tab collection contest, with proceeds from the event going to the Ronald McDonald House of Indianapolis.
The Ronald McDonald House offers shelter for parents and families of critically-ill children, at minimal or no cost, while their child is being treated at Riley Hospital for Children.
This year, the first place award went to Rockcreek Elementary, with 1,393 tabs donated per student.
Second place went to Mt. Healthy Elementary with 1,241 tabs per student. Third place went to Parkside Elementary with 372 tabs per student.
Due to a dropoff in participation this year, the Kiwanis have decided that this year’s effort will be the final competition and traveling trophies will stay with this year’s winners.
For the past 19 years, the Kiwanis supported Key Clubs from Columbus East and Columbus North High Schools in the contest to see which school could collect the most pop tabs.
The winning school was determined by the number of tabs collected per student, rather than by the total number collected. That way the smaller schools had at least an equal chance compared to the larger schools.
Over the years, the Key Clubs have donated $17,583 to the Ronald McDonald House and recycled nearly 30,000 pounds of aluminum. Also, during that time frame, several schools achieved Million Tab Plaque milestones from the Ronald McDonald House.
Schools that contributed 5 million tabs are: Richards, Rockcreek, and Schmitt Elementary.
Fodrea Elementary received the 3 million tab award.
Schools reaching 2 million tabs are: Mt. Healthy, Parkside, Southside, and Taylorsville Elementary.
Schools achieving 1million tab status are: Central Middle School, Clifty Creek, Lincoln, and Smith Elementary.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the top three schools each year were presented a traveling trophy at a convocation held at the first pace school and their name was added to the trophy. For many of those years, Ronald McDonald came to entertain the students. Representatives from the Ronald McDonald House came to accept the donation and present plaques to schools achieving the Million Tab Milestone Awards.
In recent years, the local McDonald’s franchise owner, Andy Ball, has donated Happy Meals to one classroom at each of the winning schools. The Kiwanis said they were grateful to Ball and to Kroot’s Corp., where the tabs were recycled, for their support.
