Schools
Troy Athens High School Charity Week Big Reveal!
Troy Athens High School concluded Charity Week 2019, February 11-15 on Friday by revealing an amazing $130,035.71 in donations
Troy Athens Charity Week Big Reveal!!
On Friday, Troy Athens High School concluded one of this country’s largest high school student-led charity campaigns, Charity Week 2019, February 11-15! Their goal was to raise over $100,000 for their chosen charity, and as the crowd of 1,550 students, teachers, administrators and friends looked on, the giant banner was peeled back, to reveal the 2019 number: $130,035.71!!
These funds will be donated to Athens’ chosen charity for 2019: FOCUS Detroit, whose mission is to empower children experiencing poverty by partnering with schools and communities to combat poor academic achievement, under resourced schools, substandard housing, and lack of access to basic needs. The organization provides programs to diminish the cycle of poverty.
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Charity Week has been a tradition at Athens High school, starting in the mid-80s, and it is a student-led project, from choosing the charity, to coming up with all of the fundraising activities, to executing the plan, and the amount raised has increased steadily. By 1998 (when the current advisors began keeping track), they raised $8,400 for Gilda’s Club. In 2008, they raised $23,600 for ALS of Michigan.
“I’m extremely proud of our student congress students and our Athens community,” said Shawn DuFresne, Athens Student Congress Co-Adviser. “Everyone stepped up to the challenge to make a difference in the lives of children by donating to Charity Week to benefit FOCUS Detroit.” FOCUS Detroit Director Eric Shanburn was thrilled with the news: “This changes EVERYTHING, and enables us to reach so many more kids and families.”
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Said senior and StuCo President Maddie Purvis, “Charity Week is part of our culture here at Athens—it’s what we do. I’m happy to pass down what I’ve learned during my four years to the lower classes, so they can do great things next year and continue our proud tradition.”
What will they do for an encore? Stay tuned for Charity Week 2020 to find out!
Photos Courtesy of Troy Schools: Members of Athens Student Government along with FOCUS Detroit Director Eric Shanburn, Student Congress Co-Advisers Shawn DuFresne and Dina Chrisopoulos and Athens Principal Dr. Lara Dixon pose with the reveal banner.
