Everyone knows how hard it is to save a buck these days.  Marshall School 6th grader Jacob Vainio had been saving his allowance since New Years of 2007.  He was planning on buying something big. 

On February 27, the University of Wisconsin-Superior hosted its annual Soul Food Dinner.  The program this year included a Silent Auction and accepted donations for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort Fund.  Jacob had been following the disaster and efforts to help the people of Haiti, and decided that this was the "something big" he had been saving for. 

The Haiti fundraiser, which was organized by the Black Student Union and the World Student Association, brought in $1,520.55 in freewill donations and proceeds.  Jacob's heartfelt donation of $145.00 was the largest single amount collected. 

On March 9, members of the University community along with the Black Student Union and World Student Association presented the donation check to Howie Leathers, the representative from the Northland American Red Cross, in a special ceremony that was held in the Yellowjacket Union Shippar Atrium. 

Jacob Vainio was given special recognition at the ceremony and was asked to speak to the crowd on why he gave his allowance to the people of Haiti.  His response was "I just thought that they needed my allowance more than I did." 

Jacob Vainio is the son of Arne and Ivy Vainio.  Ivy Vainio is the campus's Multicultural Student Services Specialist within the Office of Multicultural Affairs.