Troy High Activist Week / Athens High Charity Week Happening Soon

Normally Troy Athens and Troy High Schools are friendly competitors and cross-town rivals. But not this month. Each school is dedicating a week in February to do good for others, with activities designed to benefit their student government’s chosen charities: THS’ Activist Week is Feb. 5-9, AHS’ Charity Week is Feb. 12-16.

Activist Week at Troy High School is February 5 – 9. Troy Colts host spirit activities throughout their week such restaurant fundraisers every day, spirit days like Hawaiian Day, and Decades Day, donation competitions between the classes and evening events like Mr. Troy and their Snowcoming Dance that will allow them to raise money and awareness for A Friend for Flint. For the past few years THS students have created a student-to-student relationship with the 500 students of Flint’s Northwood High School, by raising money to purchase essentials for all students. This year, THS is dedicating its efforts to help 1,000 students at two Flint elementary schools by collecting enough resources and items (specifically hygienic products like soaps, toothpaste, tissues) to fill two buses—one filled with donations, and one filled with THS students--to take to the schools to deliver personally For more information about Troy High’s Activist week, or to make a donation, visit https://www.gofundme.com/a-friend-for-flint or contact Troy High’s student government at troyhighschoolstugo@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, across town, Troy Athens High School is getting ready for one of Michigan’s largest high school student-led charity campaigns, Charity Week, February 12-16, with the goal of raising over $100,000 for charity. (Last year’s Charity Week campaign raised an incredible $155,000!) The charity chosen by the students this year is Detroit Street Care, whose mission is to provide quality medical care to the underserved homeless population of Detroit. The organization bridges the gap between the homeless population and the medical community by building relationships with patients to gain their trust by offering respect and companionship.

Various creative and fun activities for students are planned to raise money and awareness during Charity Week. For example, Penny Wars will be an all week event where students place pennies into their grade’s container for positive points, while bills and silver coins are negative points. The popular Jail‘n’Bail allows students to place warrants on themselves, their friends, or their teachers; as a result, they are “arrested” during class and placed inside a “jail” and need to raise money to be bailed out. Other events include a pancake breakfast, volleyball tournament, Mr. Athens Pageant, pep assembly, film festival, teacher dance contest, parent cook-off, euchre tournament, magic show, carnival, and a dance.

The general public is invited to make a donation or purchase a $25 “passport” for many (but not all) of the activities, by visiting PaySchools, on the Troy School District website: www.troy.k12.mi.us, click on the Community tab at the top, choose Payschools Login, and click on Athens High School. You can also contribute by check made out to Troy Athens High School, Memo Line: Charity Week, 4333 John R. Rd, Troy, MI 48085.

To learn more about Detroit Street Care, visit www.detroitstreetcare.org. For more information about Athens Charity Week, please contact AHS Student Congress Adviser Shawn DuFresne at SDuFresne@troy.k12.mi.us or (248)-823-3066.

Photos courtesy of the Troy School District

AHS 2017 Reveal: Last year's Charity Week raised over $155,000 for the Jenna Kast, “Believe in Miracles Foundation.”

AHS Jail & Bail: Staff and students stay in "jail" til they raise enough bail

AHS Mr.Athens: An annual highlight of Charity Week is the Mr. Athens Competition

AHS Volleyball: Parents, Staff and Students take their volleyball seriously

THS Friend for Flint: Tommy Lawton, 2017; Martina Rabajoli, current senior; Nick Sirhan, 2016; Marisa Alberts, 2016; Tiffany Nogoy, 2017; Kathy Gu, current senior; Megan Durell, 2017; Lauren Alberts, current Junior; Kiersten Smith, 2016; Eric Cheng, 2016; Kyla Zaleski, 2016; Jacob Sirhan, current senior; Shivani Konduru, current junior; Maddie Young, current junior

THS Friend for Flint2: From left to right: Natalie Guisinger, graduated 2017; Jacob Sirhan, current senior; Ricky Young, graduated 2017; Kyla Zaleski (not actually in white), graduated 2016; Tiffany Nogoy, graduated 2017; Tabitha Hendren, graduated 2016; Eric Cheng, graduated 2016; Nick Sirhan (behind Eric), graduated 2016; Kiersten Smith (left of Nick, not in white), graduated 2016. The other people are staff/students of Flint Northwestern high school.