EDMOND —
“How do you spell ‘love’?” — Piglet
“You don’t spell it … you feel it.” — Pooh
Edmond North High School students were feeling a lot of love Friday as they learned they had passed their $225,000 goal and had raised $296,720, the largest amount ever raised, during their BALTO (Bring a Light to Others) Week.
Purple balloons bounced in the air as the total amount raised was unveiled and the students roared with excitement.
The North students chose “Winnie-the-Pooh” to be the theme for their week of fundraising, and they put in action one of A.A. Milne’s quotes, “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
Each year the three Edmond high schools, North, Santa Fe and Memorial choose and raise money for an organization that has a community connection. The three high schools then choose a Common Thread and donate 5 percent of the money raised by each of the three schools to that organization.
North students chose the March of Dimes Foundation NICU to be the recipient of 95 percent of the monies they raised, and the Common Thread for the three high schools, A Leash on Life, will be recipient of 5 percent of the money raised by the students.
The last day of the week-long activities brings to a close that, for some, is the culmination of a year-long fundraising effort.
Student leaders, in this instance three co-chairs, helped plan, organize and lead the students and the activities they participated in to raise the many thousands of dollars. The co-chairs were seniors Sally Bock, Allyson Cain and Evan Paige.
Senior Parker Stewart started the assembly madness as he offered up his beard to be shaved for a price.
A drum battle between junior Billy Freniere, sophomore Matt Shipman and “Mr. Poohtinger,” Principal Jason Pittenger played in the background as Parker’s beard was shaved.
March of Dimes Foundation worker Julie LeClercq was on hand with her triplets who were born 10 weeks pre-mature and who later helped Megan (Hines) Gaines and her husband Zac after the 9 week premature delivery of their twin girls, Tatum and Harper, who are now 20 months old.
A former North graduate Megan shared the story of how she once sat in their place, and how the birth of her daughters and the help of a Mercy Hospital NICU worker changed her life.
“When I was once sitting where you are I never thought I would be speaking to a group like this,” Megan said. “My family is one of the families you guys are supporting. Julie was a shining light when I was at Mercy after the birth of my daughters. The money you have raised will help to put March of Dimes support staff in other hospitals around the state.”
Her brother Scott Hines told the students they were making a difference in helping parents through the fear of the unknown.
Parents will have someone to lead them through the uncharted territory and won’t have to go through it alone, Hines said.
Babies are admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to receive additional specialized medical care. Reasons for NICU admissions include preterm birth, birth defects, breathing and feeding problems, infections or other medical conditions.
March of Dimes Foundation Director Belinda Rogers said, “I don’t know what to say. It is incredible. These young people really understand, and they understand what giving to others means.”
Gill Barnett with A Leash on Life said the money received from the students would go toward raising and training more service dogs.
“We train 12 dogs a year and it costs $12,000 to $15,000 to train the dogs for service,” Barnett said.
The Queen of the Fundraising was Caroline Geurin who raised $11,277, and the Co-Kings were Alex Crawford and Nolan Wilson who each raised $4,116.33.
This community service fundraiser helps students care for other people and help them in the best way they can.
BALTO Week, sponsored by the Student Council, is totally student driven, said StuCo sponsor Brian Hunter. “This is more than one week in February,” Hunter said. “It is a tradition and a way of life.”
Senior Perrin Duncan is Student Council president and one of last year’s BALTO co-chairs.
Edmond North students might say to the children and their parents who will be recipients of their fundraising efforts another A.A. Milne quote from Pooh, “You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Megan Gaines talks to Edmond North students while her husband Zac Gaines holds Harper and her brother Scott Hines holds Tatum. Megan. an Edmond North graduate, and Zac's family were helped by the March of Dimes, the BALTO 2013 beneficiary.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Balloons spelling "BALTO" rise revealing the total raised for BALTO 2013.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond North students reveal the total raised for BALTO 2013 during Friday's assembly.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond North students embrace after the reveal for BALTO 2013.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond North students embrace after hearing the total raised for BALTO 2013.
Discussion
BALTO breaks record
North students raise $296,720
- Local News
-
-
Covell/I-35 work on track
The hotel and conference center project on Interstate 35 is very much on track, said John Weeman of Partners In Development told The Edmond Sun on Tuesday. Weeman is in the process of selecting one of three people for a construction partner, he said.
-
2 officers suffer injuries in drug-related pursuit
Two police officers suffered injuries during a call in which suspects fled in a vehicle and possessed meth, police said.
-
City Council approves church remodel
A request by Redeemed Christian Church of God Kingdom Chapel to remodel a facility at 307 E. Danforth for a church was approved recently by the City Council.
“The church wants to rent a 2,302-square-foot space in the office building on the north side of Danforth, east of the convenience store, south of the Timber Ridge Addition,” said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner. “There will be no new construction other than interior remodeling to accommodate the church.
The church does not request changes to the one driveway or sidewalk of the property, Schiermeyer said. No changes will be made to the outside of the two-story brick veneer building. A sprinkler system will not be required. -
Arcadia Lake nears reopening for summer season
Work on reclaiming Arcadia Lake has been ongoing since high water forced its closure earlier this month.
-
Professor: Constitutional heritage can bring sense of belonging to U.S. citizens
Education is fundamental in preparing a citizenry to live under a free constitutional republic, said Kyle Harper, founding director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage at the University of Oklahoma. Harper is also the senior vice provost at OU as well as an associate professor of Classics and Letters.
A sense of identity by belonging to a tradition is an ingredient in being part of a free republic, he said while speaking to the Edmond Republican Women’s Club on Monday. An educated citizen must be aware, alert and intelligent to care about public affairs, he said. -
Red Cross seeks volunteers to aid in Moore storm recovery
Before arriving in Oklahoma last year, Edmond resident Sofia Griffith already had a growing Red Cross volunteer résumé.
-
DA files formal charge in Craigslist sex case
Prosecutors have filed a formal felony charge against an Edmond man arrested on a complaint related to the alleged solicitation of a minor via Craigslist, according to court records.
Friday afternoon, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown said a member of the OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested the man that morning after a two-month-long investigation into solicitation for sex with minors via Craigslist. -
Oreo stacking contest slated for Crest Foods in Edmond
Crest Foods is calling all stackers, ages 6-11, to visit the Edmond store from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to try their hand at an Oreo stacking event. The store, 2200 W. 15th St., is one of several Crest sites where youth can attempt to stack Oreos. The team that builds the highest stack in 30 seconds qualifies for the finals round the following weekend, said Donna Kamas, public relations manager.
-
State photo-ID databases become troves for police
The faces of more than 120 million people are in searchable photo databases that state officials assembled to prevent driver's-license fraud but that increasingly are used by police to identify suspects, accomplices and even innocent bystanders in a wide range of criminal investigations.
-
Lucas: Farm Bill approval vital for state farmers
The U.S. House will approve a farm bill this year, Rep. Frank Lucas said Saturday.
The bill will be debated on the House floor Wednesday and Thursday and will pass after 30 to 60 amendments are considered. - More Local News Headlines
-
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
