Emma is moving up to middle school next year and is hoping the money she donates might save some of the extracurricular activities being axed because of budget problems.
"Since 3rd grade, I've been looking forward to going into the chorus in middle school and then they cut it, so then I was upset to hear I couldn't go," Emma said.
The state of New Jersey has eliminated $5.4-million in school aid to Egg Harbor Township, forcing the district to cut jobs and many sports and afterschool activities.
Emma's donation amounts to about one 1/100th of 1 percent of that, a drop in the bucket, but she doesn't care.
"If I did a little bit, imagine if half the middle school did this, we would have all the programs back," Emma said. Emma's mother Elizabeth is proud of what her daughter's doing.
"She could have easily gone to the store and bought an iPod or used it for camping this summer, but instead she decided to give it away. That's a big deal," Elizabeth said.
School officials say Emma's money won't be wasted.
"We will deposit it in our student activities at the Fernwood Middle School and earmark it for co-curricular activities, if indeed we do get them back," Assistant Superintendent Don Robertson.
School officials are thankful, but heartbroken to have to cancel after school activities. If and when budget problems ease up, maybe then Emma Klein will get her chance to sing in the chorus.
