Lyford Elementary School conducted a fundraiser to help the Haiti earthquake victims. The 3- week project, named "Have A Heart, Help Haiti", took place between January 25 and February 15, 2010. The school's forty-one classrooms each had a goal of collecting $100, with a school-wide goal of $4,000. Each classroom met or surpassed their goal, resulting in a grand total of $6,600.00 being collected. The money was donated to the Haitian Relief Fund, C/O KRGV Channel 5, Weslaco. Half of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross, the other half to the Salvation Army.

The school's front hall was decorated with paper hearts with students' names indicating the amount they donated. Each teacher also had a giant heart posted outside the classroom showing the amount they collected on a graphic chart. Students will be rewarded for their efforts in reaching their $100 goal with a free-dress day and a movie and popcorn at school. This project was sponsored by school counselors Rosie Salazar and Chris Luna, who also impressed upon the students the importance of being compass-ionate, caring, and generous to others in time of need, such as when a natural disaster strikes and devastates lives.

"Students took this project to heart.", stated Ms. Luna. "They brought in bags of coins, birthday money, and allowance money they'd been saving. One student donated her tooth fairy money. Noah Garza, a 5th grade student, along with his family, made and sold candy apples in his neighborhood to raise funds. He donated a total of $206." "We had many staff members who donated $50, $100, or more. The child-ren's, parent's and staff members' generosity goes to show what a large caring spirit we have in the small communities of Lyford and Sebastian. It goes to show we DO have a heart."

Dina Escamilla, school principal, presented the check to Channel 5 personnel on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.