Keith Valley Middle School is a secondary school

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 in the Hatboro-Horsham School District

Hatboro-Horsham School District

The Hatboro-Horsham School District is located in Montgomery County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It encompasses an area of approximately with a population of 30,774...

 in Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. The principal is Jon Kircher, who attended the school as a child. The school is also well known for the Keith Valley Challenge, a large fundraising event.

Principals

Principal: Jon Kircher

6th Grade Assistant Principal: Barbara Whitelock

7th Grade Assistant Principal: Robert Crosby

8th Grade Assistant Principal: Sarah Stout

Location

Keith Valley Middle School is located at 227 Meetinghouse Road in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

KV Challenge

The Keith Valley Challenge began in 1977 in memory of Billy Whitehead, an 8th grade student who died of a heart attack at his bus stop. In his memory administrators, faculty, staff and 8th grade students sponsored a hockey marathon and pledged to raise money for charity. Since then, it has become the largest event of its kind in the world.

In February 2008, the event celebrates its 32nd year. Through the years, Keith Valley students, in conjunction with the beneficence of the surrounding communities of Hatboro and Horsham

Horsham

Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester...

 raised over $550,000 for a variety of charities. Pledges have been donated to the American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...

, The Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a non-profit organization in the United States established to provide the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis . The Foundation provides information about cystic fibrosis and finances CF research that aims to improve the quality of life for people with the...

, Barry Ashbee Leukemia

Leukemia

Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...

 Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Redland Middle School (devastated by Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...

), Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...

 Association for Retarded Citizens Infant Program, Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Leukemia Fund, Transplant Games/National Kidney Foundation, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...

with which they have partnered for several years, helping many seriously ill children and granting their wishes.

Each year a celebrity drops the puck to kick off the start of play with the top two teams, after which a schedule of games unfolds for a period of 17 hours. It now recognized as the largest middle school fundraising event in the world.

Notable Celebrity Guests
2010: Jamie Apody from Action News (WPVI) dropped by, bringing her camera crews. She shot the 8th graders all pepped up for the all-nighter.

2011: Vince Papale (Former Philadelphia Eagle), spoke with the entire school about his story and his struggles.