They say every penny counts, and for Special Olympics Texas - Greater Dallas Area, a whole lot of pennies are adding up to something special. Students from various schools in the Irving Independent School District have been doing more than just hitting the books—they've been hitting up friends and neighbors to collect change—and lots of it. The recent Penny Drive Pick-Up Parties showcased the community's excitement as funds flowed in to support local athletes, according to the Irving Police Department.

In a burst of philanthropic enthusiasm last week's parties weren't just your average school gathering, the event was a thank-fest, a chance to boogie down and praise the participants for their efforts. Special Olympics Texas thanked schools like Barton Elementary, Irving ISD, and Kinkeade Early Childhood School, among many others, for their dedication to selling t-shirts and gathering donations; and it wasn't just chump change—these kids have been collecting heavy coin.

The organization has yet to finish tallying the last of the loot, but a winner—who will earn bragging rights as the top penny pitcher—will be announced shortly. Students from Jack E. Singley Academy, along with a host of others, are all in the running. The sizable contribution to the Special Olympics not only promises to help athletes with intellectual disabilities but also instills a sense of community purpose in the participating students—it's a win-win if there ever was one.

While the glue sticks dry and the crayons get a rest, it's the dimes and quarters that are doing the heavy lifting, Irving ISD has rallied its troops, from Lee Britain Elementary School to Thomas Haley Elementary School, in a massive show of force for good. School spirit has taken on a different flavor, it's now tinged with the satisfaction of giving back, watch out for the ripple effects because this kind of youthful energy and dedication tends to have an infectious spread, more updates will roll out once the total sums are in and high-fives are all around.