Every year for the past 17 years, the Crown School math department, has involved the children from grades 2-8 in a very rewarding and worthwhile project known as the Mathathon.  The Mathathon involves children and parents in a coordinated effort to collect money for The Saint Jude Childen's Research Hospital, while at the same time, getting useful reinforcement in math skills at every level.

The children that participate each get a math "Fun Book" which they keep. The parents and children together enlist sponsors that pledge a given amount of money for each math problem that the participant completes successfully. Once the "Fun Book" is completed, the participants collect the money pledged from their sponsors. In turn, the money collected is brought to the school where it is then sent to the hospital to help the sick children of Saint Judes.

The children are rewarded on several levels.  All participants get a lovely certificate thanking them for their participation.  Children bringing in $35.00 or more get the certificate of thanks, a tee shirt with the St. Judes logo, as well as a FREE ticket to Six Flags Great Adventure (which can be used during a specific period of time.)   Most of all the act of charity and the feeling a child gets from doing for others less fortunate then themselves, is stressed.  In past years, we have had contributions of over $5,000.00 which have been sent to St Judes.  As expressions of thanks,  gifts of calculators and other useful prizes have been donated to the school by the hospital so that all benefit - the children in school, the children at the hospital and the school itself.