No. 16 Vol. 4
www.mypaperonline.com
April 2018
Roxbury Student Events Raise More Than $100K For Pediatric Cancer
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By Julie Ross ighting isn’t permitted in the Roxbury Township Public Schools, but helping to fight cancer through fundraising efforts is a different story. Here’s proof: At three separate events held on March 16, students from several of Roxbury’s schools raised more than $100,000 that will be donated to help support children and families affected by pediatric cancer. Both Lincoln-Roosevelt Elementary School and Kennedy Elementary School hosted head-shaving events to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which assists families whose children are battling cancer. Forty-seven Lincoln-Roosevelt students, along with 16 students from Franklin Elementary School, had their heads shaved during the Lincoln-Roosevelt event, as did Lincoln-Roosevelt
Principal Chris Argenziano and event organizer Jim McDermott, the school’s physical education teacher. Lincoln-Roosevelt has been holding St. Baldrick’s events for the past decade. During the event, McDermott shared with the students that the school has raised $260,000 over that time. This year’s total was about $14,390, including $2,000 raised single-handedly by sixth-grader William Knapp. Three Roxbury High School students-Jessica Bartelloni, Madison Ketch, and Gabrielle Keuscher-came to the event to tell them about Project Glow Gold, a community service project on which they are working. This year, students of Jonathan Benbow, a Roxbury High School English teacher, must all complete a year-long community service project whose criteria is to spend 20 percent of their time on some-
thing of value to them. The high-schoolers explained that they are collecting a variety of items for cancer patients at collection boxes in all Roxbury schools and around town. Care packages containing the items, which range from toys and arts and crafts supplies to anti-nausea wristbands, gift cards, and gum, will be created and donated to area hospitals where cancer patients who are under 18 are receiving treatment. Kennedy Elementary School’s event also benefitted the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, generating a total of $15,300 in donations. Fifteen Kennedy students had their hair cut or shaved. Joining them were 10 students from Jefferson Elementary School and two students from Nixon Elementary School. Thanks to an arrangement organized by Kennedy Elemen-
tary’s Early Act Club, a leprechaun-Steve Alford of the Rotary Club of Roxbury-appeared at the event. Students were invited to have their photographs taken with Alford as an additional fundraiser, paying $1 apiece to do so. The photo opp raised an additional $275. Meanwhile, Roxbury High School students took a literal stand against pediatric cancer at their fifth annual Mini-THON, a 12-hour, all-night event that began on Friday evening and continued through Saturday morning. More than 500 Roxbury High School students participated in the event, raising a record $76,064.54 and exceeding their goal of $75,000, according to Key Club advisor and Mini-THON overseer Mike Gottfried. RHS alumni and friends from nearby districts also took part in the event. Additional funds were colcontinued on page 4