THUNDER BAY – Students at Holy Family School were dressed in orange and black for Halloween, but were already starting to think about Christmas.
Hours before heading out to trick or treat on Wednesday, students learned they’d collectively raised $13,000 through their dance-a-thon, and immediately turned $1,000 of that money over to Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.
Students will also head out shopping as the holiday season nears, purchasing presents for the organization’s Make-A-Wish campaign that provides toys and necessities to children under Dilico care, those who otherwise might go without at Christmas.
The remainder of the money will be used to make improvements at Holy Family.
Zoesha Parson, a Grade 6 student at the Rosslyn Road school, said she was impressed with just how much was raised.
“I think we raised a lot. It was pretty good. I think we did better than last year,” she said.
“It was really important because it’s a good cause that’s good to donate to.”
Classmate Rylie Paul was equally stoked at the result.
“It is our last year of school and we just want to raise money to help the school so all the kids younger than us can have a good experience like we had in the school. It would make it really fun.”
Teacher Krista McCarville said it’s exciting for the kids to raise money for the school and equally exciting how generous the parents and families have been over the years.
This year was a little different, too.
“What was really nice this year is the fact we can donate some money to a really good cause, the Dilico Make-A-Wish campaign,” McCarville said. “We’ve raised so much money here at Holy Family School that I think it’s a great thing to do.
“These kids come from really great families, where they can donate that kind of money, so just to give back is always a really good thing.”
As a special surprise, former teacher Oscar Bortuzzo, father of NHLer Robert Bortuzzo, was on hand to deliver words of encouragements and hand out a pair of prizes donated by his hockey-playing son.
The younger Bortuzzo also sent along a recorded video message from St. Louis, where he patrols the Blues blue-line.
"I just want to say how impressed I am with everyone's hard work and fundraising for such a great cause," said Bortuzzo, who attended the school in his younger days.
