HHS Key Club Tops $200,000 In Funds
Raises $10,000 For This Year
Posted: February 5, 2013
HARRISONBURG — Another successful fundraiser completed by the Harrisonburg High School Key Club has pushed the group’s 14-year charitable donation and scholarship total past the $200,000 mark.
This year, the club raised $10,000, about $7,000 of which will go toward The Eliminate Project, geared toward wiping out maternal and neonatal tetanus, and $3,000 of which will go to Hurricane Sandy relief through the American Red Cross.
Maurizio Antonnicola, the club’s adviser, said it has raised $203,000 for projects that benefit local, national and international programs.
“Our account after we give that $10,000 will be empty again; we start over every year,” Antonnicola said. “We’re a serious club; we’re serving the community.”
Key Club is a branch of Kiwanis International, the community service organization.
Each year, the club runs one large fundraising campaign. Antonnicola, who has advised the club for 20 years, said major annual campaigns started about 14 years ago.
Past projects include drives to raise money for a new police dog for the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Kick AIDS Out Of Kenya program, as well as a shoe drive for the Soles for Souls program, among numerous others.
Along with transforming the lives of other people, the club also benefits its members, those in the club said. Several of the club’s officers plan to make service a permanent part of their lives, especially while in college.
“At first I joined because my friend was in [the club]; I wasn’t really into volunteering,” said senior Thomas Abebe, the club treasurer. “[But] I started to see how fun it was to volunteer and how good it is to see the change you make in the community.”
This year’s fundraising campaign educated the students about neonatal tetanus, a problem many were unaware of before taking part in the effort. Students learned that tetanus can be passed on to children by their mothers due to the use of poorly sterilized tools during the birth process, specifically during the cutting of the umbilical cord.
“I didn’t really know a lot about it before The Eliminate Project. It was just shocking [to hear about],” said Ruayda Qadir, the club’s historian.
Senior Giancarlo Antonnicola, who is Maurizio Antonnicola’s son and the club’s co-president, said he was surprised to hear the large impact just a small amount of money can have on the effort to wipe out the infections.
“Three dollars could save [a baby]. That pays for a shot for the mom and it stops it from [spreading to] future generations,” he said.
When Hurricane Sandy hit last fall, the club also decided that part of the money raised this school year should benefit relief efforts.
To raise the money, students dedicated their time to several fundraisers, including bake sales and concession stands, and sold chocolate and wristbands. Jugs were placed in classrooms and the club’s members encouraged students and faculty to donate.
In addition to the large project, the group performs, on average, 20 community service projects per year, Maurizio Antonnicola said.
“It feels good to help the community,” said Kendall Bailey, a senior, and the club’s co-president.
Contact Emily Sharrer at 574-6286 or esharrer@dnronline.com
This year, the club raised $10,000, about $7,000 of which will go toward The Eliminate Project, geared toward wiping out maternal and neonatal tetanus, and $3,000 of which will go to Hurricane Sandy relief through the American Red Cross.
Maurizio Antonnicola, the club’s adviser, said it has raised $203,000 for projects that benefit local, national and international programs.
“Our account after we give that $10,000 will be empty again; we start over every year,” Antonnicola said. “We’re a serious club; we’re serving the community.”
Key Club is a branch of Kiwanis International, the community service organization.
Each year, the club runs one large fundraising campaign. Antonnicola, who has advised the club for 20 years, said major annual campaigns started about 14 years ago.
Past projects include drives to raise money for a new police dog for the Harrisonburg Police Department and the Kick AIDS Out Of Kenya program, as well as a shoe drive for the Soles for Souls program, among numerous others.
Along with transforming the lives of other people, the club also benefits its members, those in the club said. Several of the club’s officers plan to make service a permanent part of their lives, especially while in college.
“At first I joined because my friend was in [the club]; I wasn’t really into volunteering,” said senior Thomas Abebe, the club treasurer. “[But] I started to see how fun it was to volunteer and how good it is to see the change you make in the community.”
This year’s fundraising campaign educated the students about neonatal tetanus, a problem many were unaware of before taking part in the effort. Students learned that tetanus can be passed on to children by their mothers due to the use of poorly sterilized tools during the birth process, specifically during the cutting of the umbilical cord.
“I didn’t really know a lot about it before The Eliminate Project. It was just shocking [to hear about],” said Ruayda Qadir, the club’s historian.
Senior Giancarlo Antonnicola, who is Maurizio Antonnicola’s son and the club’s co-president, said he was surprised to hear the large impact just a small amount of money can have on the effort to wipe out the infections.
“Three dollars could save [a baby]. That pays for a shot for the mom and it stops it from [spreading to] future generations,” he said.
When Hurricane Sandy hit last fall, the club also decided that part of the money raised this school year should benefit relief efforts.
To raise the money, students dedicated their time to several fundraisers, including bake sales and concession stands, and sold chocolate and wristbands. Jugs were placed in classrooms and the club’s members encouraged students and faculty to donate.
In addition to the large project, the group performs, on average, 20 community service projects per year, Maurizio Antonnicola said.
“It feels good to help the community,” said Kendall Bailey, a senior, and the club’s co-president.
Contact Emily Sharrer at 574-6286 or esharrer@dnronline.com