Schools
Student Fundraising Dance Will Pay Off Well
Twinsburg High School students raise money to build wells in Africa
A group of students will host the second annual Wellsprings of Change charity dance this Sunday, Aug. 14, to raise money to build wells in Africa.
“We donate all of the funds we raise to charity: water,” said Will Myers, a prominent member of the student group and this year’s valedictorian.
All the money goes to the organization charity: water, a nonprofit organization providing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
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“It’s an incredible charity," Myers said. "They use 100 percent of the funds they raise because their operating cost is covered by private donors.”
The dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn ballroom. The $20 admission goes toward the charity and the evening includes food donated by , , and more. Members will also write letters asking for donations and sell raffle tickets and T-shirts to raise additional money.
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Last year, the dance raised more than $6,000 for charity: water. The organization sends students detailed reports of where and how the donations will be used.
“I think it’s a sign that people our age can make a difference,” Myers said. “I think we show that teenagers can have a positive impact.”
Wellsprings of Change was founded last year by seniors Julia Blanchard and JoAnn Pho as part of a final project in their Honors Humanities class. Myers attended the dance last year and felt inspired to get involved. Now, the group has 25 members ranging from high school freshmen to college sophomores.
Myers said it’s a great feeling to help people.
“I helped raise this money that is going to help an average of 800 people in a village that has access now and won’t have to drink dirty and unsafe water.”
He hopes the group will inspire more people to get involved in charity: water and other charity organizations.
“Give back, have charity and love people you haven’t met yet and never will meet," he said.
Myers also has advice for those who want to help Wellsprings of Change: “The number one way to help us right now is to tell people about it.”