On June 22, a crowd of about 100 students, parents and concerned citizens gathered at the Montevideo Clubhouse in San Jose to hear the latest news in a grass-roots campaign to raise enough funds to keep the Campbell Union High School District from limiting the classes a student can take in a year. And they were treated to some welcome news.

"When I heard about their plight on television," said Cliff Pranschke, president of San Jose­based United Shredding Services, "I immediately thought, 'We can help.' "

Because of a shortfall in the California state budget, the district has decided that beginning fall 2004 it will impose a six-period cap on the number of classes students can take per year. Upon hearing the news, parents and students mobilized in an effort to raise $200,000—the amount of the shortfall—by July 31 to keep the cap from being implemented.

"I grew up in Campbell," Pranschke said. "I went to Blackford High School, played on their football team and visited all of the schools affected by the cap. This means a lot to me."

He was among a handful of local businesspeople who attended the meeting that said they'd lend some assistance. He announced that his fledgling company, based at 2677 Union Ave. in San Jose, would donate 50 percent of all of the company's shredding-service revenue to help in the effort. Cord Romero Franco, branch manager for the Campbell office of U.S. Bank, located at 750 Hamilton Ave., said he was similarly moved by the plight.

After reading about the situation in a local newspaper, he said he immediately called the bank's district manager and told him he wanted to do something to help.

He said he received permission to offer a promotion specifically at his branch: for every checking account opened at the Campbell branch, U.S. Bank will donate $10 to the Save the Seventh Period effort. Kathy Self, a San Jose­based artist with children in Leigh High School, said she was also compelled to lend her support.

Her husband, Charlie, announced to the crowd that they would donate 25 percent of the money raised for every work of art they sold. She sells fine-art paintings and note cards at www.colorbrush.com.

Other businesses are also finding ways to help reach the grass-roots campaign's goal.

Cookie Lee Jewelry owner Darnell Campbell said she will contribute 20 percent of her receipts from the jewelry parties she hosts.

And Borders Bookstore at Oakridge Shopping Center will be donating 15 percent of its sales from July 2 to July 4 to the Save the Seventh Period effort.

Already the campaign has raised $25,000, said Jorey Beamesderfer, co-chair of the Save the 7th Period Committee. There was also talk of having a fundraising drive on July 17.

But the sign on the wall reminded everyone of the challenge they were facing: "Only 39 Days Left."

To make a tax-deductible donation, write a check to "CUHSD" and write "For 7th period" on the memo line. Send the check to Save 7th Period­CUHSD, P.O. Box 7108, San Jose, CA 95150. For more information or to volunteer, send email to savecuhsd@yahoo.com or visit the website at http://www.save7thperiodcuhsd.energetic.com.