SPRINGFIELD – The soon-to-open Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum benefitted from the efforts of city students with a donation that, when matched from area businesses, yielded more than $5,000.

On April 28, students from the Homer Street School and DeBerry School represented their peers from 10 other schools in the formal presentation of the donation of $2,028.

Students from Central High School, High School of Commerce, Sci-Tech High School, Springfield Conservatory of the Arts-High School and the South End Middle School as well as the Dorman, Ells, Gerena and Pottenger schools collected pennies to donate to the museum.

This is the second time such a campaign was undertaken with the initial one being in 2013 when first-graders conducted “Pennies for Seuss.”

The donation enabled the students to achieve “naming rights” for the Cat in the Hat statue that will greet guests at the museum, which will be housed in the former Connecticut Valley History building.

To celebrate the achievement, students from both schools performed poetry written in the Dr. Seuss style.

Mayor Dominic Sarno noted that “every penny adds up.”

School Superindent Daniel Warwick lauded the DeBerry and Homer Streets schools for their efforts and noted he is proud the city was the hometown for the celebrated illustrator and writer.