My name is Jonathan Roesser but I like to be called "The Penny Man"! I have been collecting pennies for over 15 years and then donating them to the Blood Cancer United. I first started collecting in High School, year 2007 when a classmate of mine passed away from Leukemia. My teacher Mrs. Jean Cassetta started a school-wide campaign in partnership with the L&L Society in memory of our friend Andrew and I never stopped saving pennies since. 

I have been able to do some cool things to celebrate my annual donations. I was on Channel 2 in the Great Kids segment, Spectrum News, and Channel 7 news, I led a team of friends and family on the LIGHT THE NIGHT walk and I even went down a big slide into a huge pool of blue jello (I wore goggles for that one!). 

So far I have donated a total of $23,000.00. I like to hand out penny jars to local businesses, my church, my gym, my friends, my support staff, and my family. It takes a lot of time to wrap them up and then deliver them to the bank and boy they are heavy!! I usually use a wagon to get them there. During the last 2 years during the pandemic I had to find a safe way to collect my donations so I set up a "GoFundme" page with my sister-in-law Brianne Roesser  I was able to raise the most money EVER in 2020 and 2021 with the help of many people. This year you can donate directly to the Blood Cancer United LIGHT THE NIGHT campaign. Look for TEAM PENNY MAN. CLICK the sidebar and find the button to donate. Also, I am working at The Bassett Farmers Market every second Sunday from May to September collecting Pennies For Patients. See you there!

 When people ask me why I collect pennies I tell them that I remember when my friend Andrew died and that I hope my pennies will help find a cure so no one else will get sick from this cancer... "one penny at a time." 

Sincerely, 

"The Penny Man"