Budding benefactors were hailed for transforming “an easily forgotten coin into a powerful tool for youth action and service” when the Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) presented an awards night for students in Community School Districts 20 and 21.

The night of recognition – held at the Regina Center, 1258 65th Street – served to laud industrious youngsters, who participated in the Penny Harvest fund-raiser coordinated each year by Common Cents New York.

The honorees were among tens of thousands of students and supportive adults, who organized local penny collection drives to use the oft-neglected resource into ready-to-use funds for the benefit of their communities and neighbors.

After the pennies have been converted into dollars, the money is then turned into good deeds through the leadership campaign of the Roundtable Philanthropy program.

Common Cents was founded in 1991 by playwright and father Teddy Gross to create opportunities for young people of all ages and backgrounds to develop and express their need to contribute to their communities.

The participating schools were: Public Schools 247, 7000 21st Avenue; 186, 7601 19th Avenue; 121, 5301 20th Avenue; 204, 8101 15th Avenue; 229, 1400 Benson Avenue; 105, 1031 59th Street; 176, 1225 Bay Ridge Avenue; 205, 6701 20th Avenue; 112, 7115 15th Avenue; 163, 1664 Benson Avenue; 179, 202 Avenue C; 160, 5105 Fort Hamilton Parkway; 5105 Fort Hamilton Parkway; PS/IS 180, 5601 16 Avenue; PS/IS 104, 9115 Fifth Avenue; and Intermediate School 201, 8010 12th Avenue.