Charity Drive rakes in dough for Camp Kemo; exact amount raised saved for special assembly

From February 23 through March 5, Airport High School raised over $??,000--exact amount must be kept top secret until reveal assembly!--for Camp Kemo to send children with cancer to summer camp. Charity drive started February 23 when Airport had spirit night at two Steve’s Deli locations from 5-9 pm, followed by multiple events throughout the week--including Car Show, 3rd Block Throwdown, Mr. Eagle Pageant, and more!--that raised lots of money for the camp. Charity Drive ended with a Family Paint Night from 2-5 p.m. and a final spirit night at Silly’s Snoballs from 6-9 pm.

For the last 15 years Airport has been raising money for Camp Kemo. Last year, Airport sent 100 kids to camp and raised almost $60,000 this year. The week of February 27 fielded five theme days: Monday was Orange is the New Black for Leukemia and Melanoma; Tuesday was 90’s and Neon for Lymphoma; Wednesday was Yeehaw and Yellow for Osteosarcoma; Thursday was Pajamas and Purple for neuroblastoma; and Friday was Tye Dye for children's cancer awareness.

Additionally, all throughout the week there were different activities and competitions that the students could participate in to raise money for these cancer children and have a little fun while doing so. The most popular activities were the 3rd block throw down, buyouts, send-a-pig, spirit nights, Mr. Eagle, chocolate/McDonald's sales, silent auction, t-shirt sales, lunch food sales, and the Stephen Dorn 5k. All these activities raised a total of $??,799.20. That's almost the total amount raised! The most popular of these activities was the 3rd block throw down raising a total of $??,144. Again, the final amount raised will not be revealed until a special upcoming "reveal" assembly.

Airport High School has been raising money for Camp Kemo longer than some of its students have been alive. That's a long time, and each year they raise more and more money. Mrs. Reamer believes this year was more successful because of the new student government teacher, Mr. Daniel Bailey. In an interview, Mrs. Reamer said, “[There has been] way more involvement, Mr. Bailey has made it so pumped up that students want to participate. Mr. Bailey's youthfulness has been the key because he knows what the students like.”

Everyone enjoyed Charity Drive and a lot of the students enjoyed the responsibility it taught them. It's helped lots of students in student government and different clubs learn the responsibility of such a big and meaningful event. In an interview, Angell Weaver, an active member of student government says, “[Charity Drive] was very chaotic and stressful but at the same time I loved it because of the experiences and I learned how to be responsible.”

People think this event is just so great because every year Airport High School and its students raise money and put in so much effort to send these kids to camp and make their life a little better. It's so sweet that every year, these students work harder and harder to make even more money to send even more of these children to camp.

For more information on Charity Drive, you can visit the Airport High School website or you can google search ‘Camp Kemo’ to find more information on that. You can also contact Mr. Bailey or Mrs. Reamer; their emails can be found on the school website.