Two local high schools were award with a dance party for raising the most money for the United Way’s fundraising campaign.
High schools across the city were challenge earlier in the fall to raise as much as they could through fun and interesting activities. The five schools brought in more than $7,300 bringing the United Way closer to its goal of $2,602,012. The two schools that brought in the most per capita were Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School and École secondaire de La Vérendrye.
Ishmael Meekis, a Grade 11 student at DFC, said he was glad to know that his school was one of two that raised the most money. The 17-year-old said he and his fellow students worked hard to creating interesting events for people to attend. One of those events was throwing pies at teachers.
Tara Vesa, who teaches Grade 9 to 11 at DFC, said they raised more than $600 through numerous activities but it was the craft sale that really pushed them over the top.
“Each of my leadership students as part of their mark has to come up with fundraising activities,” Vesa said. “For a small school like us, $600 is quite a bit of money. All of our students aren’t from Thunder Bay and my hope was that they would feel more at home in the city by helping out the community.”
Cathy Ferrazzo, co-chair of the Campaign Team's Large Institutions Division, said with roughly three weeks left in the campaign, they have managed to raise $1,455,491.
She pointed out that the whole point of the challenge is to show students the importance of helping out the community.
“We want to have all the children in Thunder Bay to have the best opportunities for a bright future,” Ferrazzo said. “Those two schools that won worked hard to raise those funds and they are very proud of their accomplishment.”
