Posted on: Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Mililani kids raise cash for charity
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer
For 110 Mililani Middle School seventh-graders, a foray into volunteerism turned into a one-year fundraising project that culminated last week when they gave $340 each to four nonprofit groups.
Since the students couldn't donate money to all the groups they volunteered for, they researched all of them and ultimately picked the American Red Cross, the Hawaiian Humane Society, the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House for their donations.
Catherine Azada, 13, said the idea for the fundraiser was born out of the state standards for community service. "We picked what we wanted to do, volunteered our time to help, and came back and did a project," she said.
There was flexibility in the project requirement, but Rodel Gonzalez, 13, explained, "We decided to do the fundraiser after we volunteered."
The students were impressed with the organizations they helped. After making birthday cards and Christmas decorations at the Ronald McDonald House, Cody Peer, 12, said, "They're an amazing organization."
Reiko Hayashi-Billena, 12, who volunteered for the American Red Cross after floods in Manoa last October, liked the group because "They help a lot of people. If people's homes are destroyed, they give them a place to stay."
As for the Hawaiian Humane Society, "A lot of people love animals, so they figured we'd help the animals," said Heather Sasse, 13.
Getting 110 students to come to agreement on colors and slogans required a lot of voting, the students said.
Because their academic team is called "Ha'aheo," they knew they had to get "pride" into the slogan. The ballot included variations like "With Pride," in addition to the one they selected.
Shanyn Chung, 12, spent a lot of time on the Internet trying to figure out which company would give them the best deal on bracelets.
After they arrived, the students sold them at school and at the Wal-Mart store in Mililani. "We went to Wal-Mart on Saturday and sold over 100 bracelets there," said Amber Ogata, 12.
Cerise Marchan, 13, added that the students also went from class to class to sell the blue bands. "At least 75 percent of the students bought them," she said.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.
Teacher Carolyn Alameida's students capitalized on the rubber bracelet trend popularized by professional cyclist and six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and sold light blue "Got Pride?" bracelets at $2 apiece to raise the money. It was something they felt they needed to do after spending a day doing volunteer work for various organizations, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Hawaii Cat Foundation and the Red Cross.
Mililani Middle School students show off the "Got Pride?" bracelets they sold. Students chose the organizations that received the proceeds.
Kylie Sakamoto, 12, was equally moved by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for terminally ill children.
Rubber bracelets were popularized by six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. Mililani Middle School's come with a slogan.
