Highland Park High School launches 2012 charity drive
BY CHARLES BERMAN cberman@pioneerlocal.com January 30, 2012 5:22PM
Highland Park High School students 17-year-old Jami Grauer (left) and 16-year-old Emily Levy call out to students during passing period to donate to the school's annual HPHS Charity Drive. This year's charity is the Leukemia Research Foundation. | Michell
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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:08AM
Highland Park High School students launched the school’s annual, month-long charity drive fund-raising campaign Friday morning with two spirited and tear-jerking opening assemblies.
This year’s effort will benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation, which has a mission to conquer leukemia, lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndromes while enriching the quality of life of those touched by these diseases.
The foundation’s stated strategy is to fund worldwide research into the causes and cures of blood cancers, provide financial assistance to patients and offer educational and emotional support programs.
On Friday, HPHS Charity Drive student chairs hosted leaders from the foundation and their classmates who are battling these diseases. The goal was to reignite the outpouring of community support Highland Park has always provided the drive, student organizers said.
“This is a charity that touches many families in Highland Park and has many local chapters and connections,” said HPHS senior Alexa Boorstein, who is co-chairing the event.
Fellow co-chair Sarah Bronson added that the opening assembly always proves to be a tear jerker, but ultimately motivates students to rally behind the cause.
Among the first major February fund-raisers will be the annual silent auction, scheduled from 6-9 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 3) in the Student Café. The Battle of the Bands contest and fund-raiser will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 4) in the HPHS gym.
Returning will be such long-standing fund-raising staples as throwing pies in principal Brad Swanson’s face, evening dances, dress-up days, daily bake sales and eating contests. New this year will be the sale of Blue Bucks, which offer $10 gift certificates to Highland Park restaurants for $5 donations.
“My favorite part is seeing the whole school come together united for one cause,” Boorstein said. “It’s not just the students, but the teachers, staff and community, too.”
While Charity Drive raised $140,500 in 2011 for the Saving Tiny Hearts Society, Bronson said the effort isn’t just about the donation.
“We don’t have a goal for money,” she explained. “As much as Charity Drive is about helping the Leukemia Research Foundation, it helps our school just as much. It’s unbelievable how much money we raise, but what we love is it brings the whole school together.”
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