'$20 Challenge' expands mission of kindness after Action News story

EWING, N.J. (WPVI) -- We always say we have the best viewers, and this story proves it.

Last year, we told you about a teacher and her students stretching $20 grants to help others.

This year, the program started expanding to another school because so many people responded.

On Friday, five students from Hatboro-Horsham High School in Montgomery County took a field trip across the Delaware River to tell a class of New Jersey 10th graders about the $20 Challenge.

Their teacher, Kristina Ulmer, started it to honor her sister, using the money she left after she died to fund and teach young people about kindness and empathy.

"I thought it was going to be a one-time thing that I do just to honor my sister, but we received so many donations we've been able to do it every semester, twice a year, since fall 2018," said Ulmer.

After last year's Action News story, so much money poured in that Ulmer was able to create a foundation to expand the challenge to other schools.

What good deeds could you do with $20? It's not just a valuable lesson for Mrs. Ulmer's students. It's a call to action.

On Friday, that happened for the first time at Ewing High School, and to her own beloved former teacher, Siri Bowman.

"It's so nice to give back to her because she's given so much to me," Ulmer said.

"I'm excited to see what my students walk away with," said Bowman.

The visitors showed up with a $460 grant, enough for Ms. Bowman to hand out $20 bills to 23 students.

They also gave testimonials about how great it feels and how creative and successful some ideas have been.