COMMUNITYCOURIER - Morgantown/Honey Brook Edition -
townlively.com
Twin Valley Student Elected To Leadership Council
Restart Banquet To Feature Josh McDowell BY ANN MEAD ASH
BY FRANCINE FULTON
“I really have a connection with the cause,” said Madison “Maddie” Morgan, 16, who will be a junior this fall at Twin Valley High School (TVHS) when talking about Four Diamonds, a nonprofit organization with the goal of conquering childhood cancer. “I was really motivated to become a part of it rather than sit back and watch.” Maddie is a member of the TVHS Mini-THON club, which raises funds for Four Diamonds. The club’s main fundraiser is its Mini-THON, which is a dance marathon modeled after the Penn State THON that raises money for families with children being treated for cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Last year, Maddie was the top fundraiser in the club, raising $2,458. As the 202122 fundraising overall, Maddie is now in charge of creating, setting up and seeing through all of the club’s fundraising events throughout the upcoming school year. For her dedication to the club and her fundraising efforts, Four Diamonds recently named Maddie as a member of the 2021-22 Mini-THON Student Leadership Council. In her new role, Maddie will serve as an advocate and leader for Four Diamonds and MiniTHON and will be one of the representatives for more than 90,000 students who are part of the organization. Maddie, who joined the TVHS Mini-THON club her freshman year of high school, applied to be a member of the council after learning about it from Gail Frassetta, a liaison with Four Diamonds. “I didn’t think I was going to get it
because I haven’t had as much experience as people going into their senior year,” she noted. The Mini-THON Student Leadership Council provides feedback and shares ideas with the Four Diamonds staff throughout the school year to help improve the Mini-THON program. Council members also serve as mentors for other Mini-THON leaders and assist in Mini-THON recruitment presentations, among other duties. Because of the pandemic, many schools, including TVHS were unable to hold their typical Mini-THON event for the 2020-21 school year. Instead, TVHS held a car wash in the high school parking lot on April 27, followed by an abbreviated outdoor Mini-THON from 5 to 8 p.m. on the school’s football field. The club also sold MiniTHON T-shirts. The TVHS Mini-THON club has been able to raise more than $140,000 since its formation in 2014. This year, the students broke their own fundraising record and earned $30,056 by hosting multiple fundraisers, including “Laps for Leukemia,” “Dine and Donate” at local restaurants and car washes. Even though school is not currently in session, Maddie has already held a fundraiser for Four Diamonds, organizing a “Dine and Donate” event at P.J. Whelihan’s in Downingtown in July, which raised $300. Maddie said she is looking forward to being a member of the Mini-THON Student Leadership Council. “I (want to) continue to learn, grow and spread awareness,” she stated. “I am extremely appreciative to have this opportunity, and I
Maddie Morgan
am excited to see what the future holds for the cause.” For more information about Mini-THON at TVHS, visit www.facebook.com /TVHSminithon.
August 25, 2021 - 7
Jaime Santiago, founder and executive director of Restart Training Center Ministry (RTCM), an organization that strives to help men who have turned to abusing chemicals or developed other kinds of addictions, sees the goals of the RTCM in space mission terms. “Restart is the rocket booster that helps (students) get into the orbit of sobriety and recovery,” said Santiago. Once students are orbiting among the stars, Santiago said, they are sustained by connecting to a local church where they can continue to grow spiritually. “We help them blast off, but
they have to utilize the resources in the community,” said Santiago. So, for RTCM’s sixth annual fall banquet, it is only fitting that the organization is featuring Josh McDowell, author of “Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” along with about 150 other books, and a star of the Christian publishing world. “ We reached out to Josh, and he agreed,” said Santiago. “The Lord brought Josh to us.” The event will be held at Shady Maple Banquet Center, 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. Call of Grace Band will provide special music for the event, and a
Josh McDowell
freewill offering to benefit the ministry will be received. For McDowell, who has spoken in more than 100 countries, responding positively to RTCM’s request simply lined up with the goals of his nearly 60 years of ministry. “Restart’s See Restart pg 8
Custom Leather Repair Brandywine Shoe Shop will fix your boots & shoes with quality materials! We use long-lasting Vibram Soles and can do special build-ups.
Mon.-Thurs. 8-5; Fri. 8-8; Sat. 8-2; Sun. Closed
R074876
1620 Cambridge Rd. Honey Brook, PA 19344 (610) 273-2990
R074618
Zipper repair/replacement, and repair of just about any leather item is available here!
