Warner Upper Elementary Students Get Big Pizza Party

Adrian Owens of threw a pizza party Friday for about 900 students at as way of saying "thanks" on behalf of .

Sweet Dreamzzz is a nonprofit organization that provides sleep education and sleep kits — complete with a sleeping bag, socks, a toothbrush and other items that families otherwise might not be able to afford — to help children in the Detroit area get a good night's sleep.

The Warner Junior Optimists Club's collection of about 3,400 sleep kit items netted more than any other school in the district, earning them the pizza party.

Students cycled through the cafeteria in several shifts Friday, with Sweet Dreamzzz and school staff serving the pizza slices.

Owens said he learned from his grandparents that "true greatness comes from serving others."

"I have a personal mission statement, that I expect to win by helping others," he said. "It's just a good feeling to help strengthen our community by giving back."

He told students, "You all have inspired me to continue ... because you're helping fellow students who don't have as much as you have."

Nancy Maxwell, executive director of Sweet Dreamzzz, said Owens has been providing support for the organization since 1998. He was a student at Beard Elementary, the location of the organization's first sleep kit distribution.

"We're just very grateful for his partnership," she said.

After thanking students for their contributions, she asked that when shopping for school supplies in August, they consider purchasing an extra package or two of crayons for Sweet Dreamzzz.

"A lot of the schools don't even have crayons in the areas we serve," she said.

Warner Principal Mark Watson expressed his pride and appreciation for the students' efforts. "This is the Warner way," he said.