Amy Bynum and Brian Field (top left) speak to Middle School students about 'Penny Pitch,' a fundraising campaign for the Deven Sawyer and Grant Williams endowments.
A pair of Providence Day alumni and long-time teachers have brought back a student council fundraiser to help two significant endowments.
Amy Bynum, a graduate of the Providence Day class of 1988 and a Middle School English teacher, and brother Brian Field, a graduate of the class of 1994 and Middle School History teacher, are helping a group of students this week run Penny Pitch, a money-raising campaign for the Deven Sawyer and Grant Williams endowments.
Members of the Student Council are collecting money at the beginning of lunchtime throughout the week via Penny Pitch to raise awareness about the endowments.
“We hope Middle Schoolers will be inspired by both young men and feel connected to the donations they make,” says Ms. Bynum, who, along with Mr. Field, are co-advisors for the Student Council. Both have a long history of involvement with student government groups at Providence Day.
“The penny pitch was a popular fundraiser for years,” she says. “Middle School students have fun with the competitive aspect while raising money for good causes at the same time. We knew we wanted to bring that back, and we have personal connections to the two endowments selected.”
The Deven Sawyer Memorial Fund supports an annual award given to two rising Providence Day seniors who exemplify Deven's character, compassion, empathy, kindness, and gentle spirit.
Deven, who would’ve graduated with the Class of 2019, died in June 2018, days after he was injured in a bus accident while studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Basketball star Grant Williams, who graduated with the Class of 2016, established the Grant D. Williams Endowment in 2019-20. The endowment provides an annual award to an incoming Upper School student of a diverse background.
“Grant Williams has created this endowment for students that can’t financially come to Providence Day,” seventh-grade Student Council member Addie Ko says. “The Devin Sawyer endowment is for two rising seniors who are kind.”
Ms. Bynum says the Sawyer family were friends of many Middle School teachers, and Smita Sawyer touched the lives of Lower School students for years as the Extended Day nurse.
“Deven's death impacted the entire community, and as close friends of the Sawyers, Brian and I both want to keep his memory alive for those who never knew him,” she says. “We wanted to make sure they knew about Deven's selflessness, kindness, and authentic spirit.”
Adds Michael Kahn, a Middle School student council member: “The Devin Sawyer endowment is important because it is an award for the nicest kid. I think this is important because this isn't about good grades or how good [you are] at sports, just shouting out the nicest kid, which I think is cool. It is important to show the nice kids that they are noticed.”
Mr. Field coached Williams in high school, and they have remained close since his graduation.
“It is important to us that the kids recognize who Grant was as a student, not simply a college stand-out and NBA player,” Ms. Bynum says of Williams, who is a forward for the Charlotte Hornets. “This fundraiser gave Brian the opportunity to talk about that side of Grant and to emphasize his generosity in giving back to Providence Day.”
Students are encouraged to give, and the winning grade will win an experience that connects to both endowments.
Deven loved desserts, so the first part of the prize will be a special sweet treat for the entire grade, Ms. Bynum says. In addition, Grant agreed to come spend time with the winning grade in a special assembly about leadership, his basketball journey, and his experience at Providence Day.
The assembly is scheduled for February 6.
The way a Penny Pitch works is cents count toward the point total, while dollars count against. For example, on Tuesday, a seventh-grade student put $10 and $20 bills in the sixth-grade jar to take away 3,000 points.
“Kids are dumping change into their own grades' jug,” Ms. Bynum says.
Rajan Khiani, a Student Council member, says a lot of spirit and incentive for the fundraiser is coming from students.
“The combination of supporting a good cause along with a spirited rivalry creates an atmosphere where everyone eagerly checks daily standings to see which grade is ahead, motivating even more participation,” Rajan says. “Both of these endowments are important to our Providence Day community since they all affect others for a good cause. In essence, the funds we raise will uplift individuals and our entire community.”