Third-Grader Rewarded for Turning in $20

When third-grader Edmarilys Alverio found $20 at her school, Montessori Preparatory School, she knew instantly what she had to do.

“Now, I don’t know about you, but I know plenty of grown men and women who would not have turned $20 in if they found it on the ground,” said Temple Terrace Police Chief Ken Albano. “But she didn’t hesitate. She immediately turned the money in to a school administrator.”

For her honesty, Edmarilys has been given a Do the Right Thing award from the Temple Terrace Police Department. She received a certificate and a gift bag with four tickets to the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), gift certificates to Cici's Pizza, and a T-shirt.

Do the Right Thing is a city program meant to develop citizenship and integrity in Temple Terrace kids.

“This is a fantastic program that has not been in use for some time now, and I’m glad to see that it’s coming back on board,” said Temple Terrace Mayor Frank Chillura.

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Officer Ken Stanton, the police department’s new community service officer, visited area schools to talk about the program with administrators, who have been supportive of it. That’s how he found out about Edmarilys, Albano said.

“So, it’s my hope that we’ll continue to have more Do the Right Thing recipients coming here from Temple Terrace schools in the future,” Albano said.

Chillura said he looks forward to rewarding kids who set good examples for other kids and adults alike.

“It’s something certainly that needs to be echoed much more based on all the issues that we hear in our society today,” he said.

“I think that’s a fantastic job, and you deserve the praise for it,” Chillura told Edmarilys. “Thank you so much for setting a great example for the community.”