Bertha Shreffler has four grandchildren in the Panther Valley School District, but she donates her time for every child in the school district.

For years Shreffler, of Nesquehoning, has volunteered at Panther Valley Elementary running the annual book fair, as well as leading fundraisers for the school and local charities

“I do this because it’s important for the kids to learn to read - if you can put a book in every child’s hand, they can learn to read,” she said.

Shreffler’s efforts recently received statewide recognition. The Principals Association of Pennsylvania named her the recipient of its 2020 Service to Children Award because of her long history of volunteering at Panther Valley.

Shreffler single-handedly runs the book fair each year, and coordinates a “penny war” among classrooms. She counts and rolls every cent.

Shreffler said that the honor would not have been possible without a school community that fully embraces the fundraisers, and Principal Robert Palazzo.

“If it wouldn’t be for Rob, I couldn’t do half the stuff that he’s willing to let me do,” Shreffler said. “The teachers are willing to participate in it also - and the kids are amazing.”

Palazzo challenges the students with unusual rewards - like a chance to dump slime on their teacher’s head, to make him eat bugs, or bringing a fake snow machine into the gymnasium while he sings songs from “Frozen.”

The fundraisers have been a success for the school and the community.

In 2018, they helped fund the purchase of a playground - something the school hadn’t had for years.

Last year, they donated more than $5,000 to Turn to Us for their SPECTRUM Sensory Gym project. In past years they’ve donated to the Community and Residential Empowerment Services, and the former Coaldale Head Start program.

The Principals Association has given the Service to Children Award since 1974. Past honorees include Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood) and Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Stargell.

While normally the award would have been given at the association’s annual conference, it was held virtually this year. Dr. Paul Healey, executive director for Pennsylvania Principals Association, virtually announced Shreffler as the award winner.

“One of the most significant impacts she’s made on the school community was her involvement in a project to raise funds to build a playground,” Healey said. “As we all know, having volunteers for a school is more important than ever right now.”