Tuscan Students Raise Money for Japan Disaster Relief

Early in April, Daniel Maloof, a third-grader at Tuscan School, petitioned Principal Malikah Majeed to set up a donation to the Red Cross to benefit victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan — much as Tuscan had for Haiti last year.

Majeed said yes.

Jars were placed in every classroom to accept change and paper money for donations for disaster relief in Japan.

Between donations from family and friends and the jars at Tuscan, Maloof ultimately raised a total of $2,350 for tsunami relief. According to Daniel's dad, local music scenester , "He and his cousin Pete marched their donation over the Red Cross of Northern NJ yesterday."

Said Rich Maloof, "The idea was inspired by his older cousin [Pete Corso], who did something similar over in Cedar Grove." In fact, Corso raised $2,540 himself and split the proceeds between the Red Cross and UNICEF.

The older Maloof said that the younger Maloof was additionally charged up after setting up a sale in their front yard in late March for which he and his siblings cleaned up some toys they weren't using and made $68 for Japan.