Teens work to promote tolerance while honoring the memories of child victims of the Holocaust

    /24-7PressRelease/ - ST. LOUIS, MO, February 01, 2008 - An ambitious campaign to collect 1.5 million unused crayons has been launched by members of the teenage youth group at Congregation Temple Israel in Creve Coeur, MO.
The crayons are to commerate the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust, according to Jennifer Patchin, co-advisor to the Temple Israel Federation of Temple Youth (TIFTY) group.
The idea for the crayon campaign was born when the youths visited the Holocaust Museum in Peoria, IL. That institution collected 11 million buttons to commemorate all the lives that were lost in the Holocaust. "Our kids thought we ought to have something here to serve as a reminder of all the children who perished," said Debbie Schultz, TIFTY's other advisor.
The group has currently collected more than 400,000 crayons. Of these, 150, 000 will be used to create a permanent memorial at Temple Israel. In the memorial, one crayon will represent every 10 children who perished, Schultz explained. The remainder of the crayons will be distributed to area elementary schools, along with a coloring book promoting tolerance and diversity that the youth group members are designing.
"I'm especially interested in the cultural awareness that this project will generate," said 17-year-old Molly Finn, chair of the crayon campaign. "I hope it will serve as a reminder of what happened, but also as a reminder of what is going on now in places like Darfur. Promoting diversity is important, and people need to know that it's not OK to hate."
TIFTY members are actively soliciting contributions of unused crayons or money to purchase crayons. Donations may be sent to Congregation Temple Israel, #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Dr., Ladue Road at Spoede, Creve Coeur, MO 63141.
For more information, call 314-432-8050 or email [email protected].

For additional information:
Debbie Schultz: 314-330-9940
Jennifer Patchin: 314-307-9940

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