Westfield STRIVE Club Seeks Performers For Charity Show

WESTFIELD, NJ - Talented residents are being sought for the the WHS Strive Club's fifth annual charity event on May 17. The audience will come from all surrounding towns, and all of the proceeds will go to the Strive Scholarship Fund to help students across the globe to continue their education. The auditions for magicians, dancers, singers, actors and comedians are Wednesday and Thursday.

According to current president Anna Qiang, the main goal for the club is to help students who have outstanding academic records, strong core values, and come from families with financial hardships to continue their educational pursuits. We strive to connect future leaders of the world over international borders.

"The Westfield High School Strive Club was founded in 2014 by my older sister, Cindy Qiang, who is now a sophomore in college," said Qiang. "I have taken over the presidency my freshmen year in 2017. I have been selected president again, and am now a sophomore at Westfield high school. Along with other students, I am continuing to grow and develop this amazing club. Our other officers are Bianca Popa and Sebastian Wroe who are both sophomores and serving as secretary. Our Vice Presidents are Alyssa Milrod and Emily Su, who are both seniors. The club now has over 120 affiliated students, and the membership is continuing to grow."

Since 2014, the Strive club has been helping a middle school in Datong, China. Every year for Datong, the Strive Club sponsors three top-performing 9th grade students who are later accepted by a regional board that will cover their living expenses for their first year of high school.

"Starting from the summer of 2018 and in future years, we are proud to welcome our partner schools in Zambia, Africa and Siem Reap, Cambodia," Qiang said. "Not only will we be aiding with purchasing new school materials, but we will also be making sure every student has a chance to go to school in the impoverished villages of Zambia and Siem Reap."

Qiang said their biggest fundraising event is their annual concert.

"We also attend the Westfield Chinese-American Association community event, which is around the time of Chinese New Year. This past February, the Strive Club has partnered with the pulsera project in order to educate Latin Artists. We also have bake sales and chocolate sales at school, and are always welcome to new ideas proposed by our members," she said.

Qiang said the only missing from the event, is the talent, and she said she is hoping the community will provide that.

"The goal of the event to to send all proceeds to less-fortunate students around the globe. We encourage elementary, middle, and high school students from Westfield and surrounding towns to participate in the concert. Last year, we had the very talented EIS Broadway singers perform along with other amazing singers and dancers," she said.

There are also raffles at the event from a selection of Westfield businesses, who are sponsored on the concert brochure for many people of different townships to see.

"Our members ask these stores for gift cards, coupon, etc. to serve as gifts for our concert attendants. We are always so grateful to have stores in Westfield who are so keen to assist our global cause for education," Qiang said.

The auditions are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, April 10 and 11 at 3:30 p.m. in the Westfield High School cafeteria B. Qiang said auditions are open to all Westfield residents and students. For more information, email whsstriveclub@gmail.com.

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