PENDLETON — Freshman Max Mayer hoped money raised through the sale of clay art pieces would go toward Roswell Park Cancer Institute in honor of his grandmother who passed away from brain and lung cancer.

And that’s what happened after Starpoint High School art teacher, Sue Liddel, announced Monday afternoon, that Roswell will be getting donations raised by selling students’ vessels, along with the Niagara County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“These were our two front-runners when we asked the students who they wanted to donate the funds to. They picked Roswell and the SPCA,” Liddel said.

The organizations were chosen by popular vote by all Starpoint art students who partook in creating a unique clay model.

“It’s not as boring as some of the other stuff we do,” Mayer, 14, said. “I like making these because it allows each of us to express ourselves. None of them are the same and they’re being sold for a really good cause.”

His classmate, Colton Rutland, also 14, agreed.

“It’s cool and I really like that our class is a part of this cool project,” he said. Rutland voted for donations to be made to Roswell Park, also.

The project started in November by Vessels For Charity founders R. Sean “Clay Man” Manning and his wife, Laura.

Starpoint High Schoolers completed their vessels Monday and are ready for sale. Manning said 800 vessels were made and will be sold for $8 each.

Manning explained that 10 percent of the money raised will go toward Starpoint art funds for supplies and other equipment, another 10 percent will go in a Starpoint scholarship fund for seniors and the rest will be donated to Roswell and the SPCA.

Starpoint High School — Manning’s 1980 alma mater — was the first stop at setting up this fundraiser, and by this Spring, another 384 schools around the country became a part of this project.

“We just want to be a grain of sand doing good and going in a positive direction,” Manning said. “Every cent raised helps.”

Donna McMichael, of Lockport, purchased eight vessels over the holidays, which the Mannings said was a Christmas gift alone for them just by seeing someone who bought so many.

By the end of the year, Manning said each Starpoint art student will receive a certificate for their participation with Vessels For Charity that will go toward community service recognition.

The Vessels for Charity Foundation, is a not for profit organization based out of St. Petersburg, Florida with representatives in New York, Colorado, Toronto, and London.

You can find more information about Vessels For Charity on Facebook or on their website at http://www.vesselsforcharity.org

Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222 ext. 6251.