West Bloomfield High School Raises Money for ACS

West Bloomfield Township, May 14, 2019 - Close to two-thousand West Bloomfield High School students and staff members spent their lunch this past Tuesday raising over $2000 for American Cancer Society. The money will be donated to the West Bloomfield High School Relay for Life team participating in the annual event June 8, 2019 at the high school.

Students in the districts sports and entertainment marketing classes took their event marketing skills and put them to work alongside the buildings clubs and activities with help of teachers Julie Zalla, Jennifer Sepetys and paraprofessional Lisa Sallen.

Students in sports and entertainment marketing raised money by having staff and students purchase raffle tickets for $1 in the weeks leading up to the carnival. Throughout the year they secured donations from local businesses in the area. They were able to collect over fifty donations for the carnival with prizes which included Apple Airpods, an Amazon Fire Stick, Echo Dot, clothing from Vineyard Vines, tickets to Tigers games, DTE concerts, gift cards to restaurants and businesses in the local area.

Joe Lunghamer Chevrolet served as a sponsor of this year's event providing additional prizes. For those who attended the carnival during any of the three lunches throughout the day, they had an opportunity to play a corn hole toss to enter to win one of a dozen Visa gift cards ranging in price from $25-$50 or a pair of new Apple Airpods.

The winners were selected for both raffles immediately following the carnival and posted on @wbhs_DECA so those both in the building and within the community had an opportunity to participate.

In addition to the raffle, sports and entertainment marketing students used their marketing skills gained throughout the year to plan the event by choosing one of several carnival games in which they were responsible for creating signage, advertising and publicity. Games included slapshot hockey, quarterback toss, basketball, easy striker, golf challenge and more. The day of the carnival students put together each of the games, ran their game throughout each lunch encouraging student participation, and then took down the games. Sam Hughes a student in the class shared, “There were so many fun games, and many opportunities to win cool prizes.”

Sports and entertainment marketing Julie Zalla shared, “ This is a wonderful way for our students to participate in a community event, showcase their knowledge of event marketing, communications, selling and advertising while bringing awareness to an important cause and funding for cancer research. The entire building works together to ensure the events success. We are so thankful to our incredible custodial staff, administrators, students and staff members who support this event each year.”

Student activities and clubs throughout the building also took an active role throughout the carnival by signing up to sell Dairy Queen blizzards, popcorn and sundaes. Others raffled t-shirts, offered jump rope challenges or handmade games for student participation.

Lara Mathias served as one of the student Co-chairs for the event and shared, “It was an amazing experience to be a part of a day that allowed students to have fun, but also spread awareness and raise money for ACS!”

Student Activities and Leadership teacher Jennifer Sepetys shared, “There are many students whose lives have been touched by cancer. The ACS carnival provides a way for clubs and class councils to organize games and sell snacks to all our students. Everyone has the opportunity to donate to charity today to make a difference.”

Sports and entertainment marketing student Tre Briscoe summed the day up by sharing, “It was pretty cool to see everyone come and enjoy the event we worked so hard to put together.”