DUBOIS – Peer pressure isn’t something that’s tolerated in schools. However, in this case it proved to be for a good cause.
DuBois Area High School senior class president Ian Harvey made a bet with his fellow students that if the school raised more than $12,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation he would shave his head. The school raised $12,395.95 and Harvey, who said he hadn’t had a serious haircut since elementary school, followed through with his promise.
On Tuesday, fellow senior Gavin Volosky did the honors as he cut and then shaved Harvey’s hair with the whole school – and Harvey’s proud father Ken – looking on. The haircut was done in school’s television studio and was broadcast throughout the school.
Harvey said his hair measured one foot and some spots and planned to donate the locks to Locks of Love.
As it does each year, the school raised money for Make-A-Wish through a variety of fund-raisers that included the Mr. DAHS Contest, a Halloween costume dance, lunch time collections, first period collection, a Make-A-Wish t-shirt sale, collections at football games and on Hat Day on Fridays during football season. The Mr. DAHS Contest during Spirit Week alone raised $4,000.
All told, the DuBois Area School District raised approximately $40,000 for Make-A-Wish this year. Most schools did collections during Make-A-Wish week earlier this month and some did additional fund-raisers as well.
“Over the years the district has raised a significant amount of money for Make-A-Wish,” Superintendent Tim Deluccia said. “I’d like to thank Mary London for organizing the program over the years. She works with the various groups in organizing the program each school year. The students and staff of our district do a wonderful job in helping the children to achieve their wishes.”
The middle school raised $4,200 through dances, bake sales, a teacher luncheon, teachers paying to wear jeans on Fridays and collections in each homeroom.
Oklahoma Elementary proved to be the top fund-raiser at the elementary level collecting $10,785. It did so by collecting donations at open house, a skating party, a Saturday morning matinee at Carmike Cinemas, a Luigi’s dinner, a holiday sing along evening, Make-A-Wish week activities, a collection for voting for their favorite holiday tree and from private donations.
At C.G. Johnson Elementary, $3,926.15 was raised. Collections at the Reynoldsville school began during Read Across America week last school year. Teachers and staff cooked green eggs and ham and had a breakfast for students and parents. Students also celebrated Mr. Rogers’ 80th birthday by bringing in 80 cents and wearing sweaters. They also raised money during Make-A-Wish Week with a farm theme each day. If a classroom raised $125 during the week, the teacher of the class agreed to kiss a pig. If all the classrooms reached that goal, Principal Don Mowrey and custodian Tom Smith were to a kiss a pig. Since each classroom reached that goal, everyone at the school will kiss a pig during a future assembly to honor the milestone.
It was a special Make-A-Wish fund-raiser for Juniata Elementary as it was able to grant a wish for one of its own. Juniata student Kyler Smith had a liver transplant recently. The school raised a total of $3,902.42 through classroom collections, a Luigi’s dinner and Chinese auction, jeans day, cafeteria collection jars, lunches and a donation from Penelec.
Sykesville Elementary enjoyed its best Make-A-Wish season yet by raising a school-record $1,304.10. It did so by having a pennies war in each classroom and by selling chances for items donated by businesses.
Wasson Elementary raised $1,192.89 through classroom collections during Make-A-Wish Week and a family movie night featuring Christmas classics.
Penfield and Luthersburg elementary schools each raised more than $500 through student collections.
Harvey and Volosky following the haircut. (Photo provided by Chuck Ferra)
