MILFORD — Milford fourth grade students were all abuzz Monday, Feb. 8, when WSBT-TV news reporter Ed Ernstes visited the classrooms to hear how students at Milford Elementary School are reading it forward and sharing the memory of a beloved community member with children at Riley Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis.

According to a press release, “The fourth grade students at Milford School are getting statewide recognition with the Kehoe Kids Project: a student led book drive in honor of Diane Kehoe, former teacher and loved community member. What started as a group of fourth-graders wanting to make a difference. Has turned into a huge success.”

After being presented with the school wide reading theme, #readitforward, in the fall of 2015, fourth grade students started a project that would pay it forward with books.

The Milford students planned to raise money for the purchase of books, then donate the books to children at Riley Children’s Hospital in memory of Kehoe, a longtime Syracuse resident and retired teacher.

The students are scheduled to make the book delivery in Indianapolis during a field trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday, April 22. Several members of Kehoe’s family and Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, will accompany the class at RCH.

One of three fourth grade teachers Autumn Griepentrog stated, “We have been talking about making a difference outside of the classroom as well as inside our school.”

The student led fundraiser has included selling snacks before school, fining teachers for wearing jeans, a gofundme page and a silent auction that has led to local businesses donating merchandise for a second silent auction to be held during the annual school fish fry 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 11. “The response has been amazing,” reported Milford fourth grade teacher, Emily Worrell.

For Worrell the book drive is personal. She was a close friend of Kehoe, who before retiring graciously donated her books in order to share a passion and love for reading and learning. Shortly after donating the books Kehoe was given a diagnosis of esophageal cancer and lost her battle March 24, 2015.

After Kehoe’s passing, Worrell introduced students to Miss Diane by naming her classroom library, “Diane’s Corner,” in her memory of the former educator. Worrell said, “Our students have made a strong connection with Miss Diane even though they never had the privilege of meeting her. Her generosity and love for reading is on display daily in our school, and we want to do the same for the kids at Riley Children’s Hospital by donating these books in her memory,”

According to the press release the students have raised more than $2,000 collectively. Their goal is $1,500 in donations at gofundme.com/kehoekids.

Fourth grade students were excited to have the attention of the media and nationally recognized author Robin Mellom Monday. Ernstes, news broadcaster, surprised the students by dropping in to videotape them sharing their thoughts on the Kehoe Kids Project.

The excitement was added when Mellom paid a special visit via Skype. The author of children and teen books expressed her enthusiasm with the young philanthropists and donated a series of her books to Kehoe Kids Project. Mellom wrote about her Skype visit with the students on her blog site.

More media interviews are still to come by local newspapers in Elkhart and Kosciusko County. Worrell commented, “I was not prepared for this kind of response.”

To learn more about Kehoe Kids Project visit the Facebook page and gofundme website.