Fridley TRIP Gala 2019

For 20 years, 7th and 8th grade Fridley Middle School students have applied and interviewed to
attend a biannual east coast trip to tour Washington DC, Gettysburg, and New York City with their classmates.

Around 80 students are slated to take the trip in the spring of 2019, and all of them will need to fundraise up to $1,600 to cover trip costs. This high cost can seem intimidating to some families, which is what motivated a group of parents to come together to form a fundraising committee, T.R.I.P (Tigers Roar In Pride), which focuses on raising funds for students.

The second Taste of Fridley Gala is planned for March 8th from 6-9 p.m. at the Banquets of Minnesota to raise funds for the students. The gala is billed as a “nonpartisan political event” where the families of the kids attending the trip will meet area politicians and get a taste of what they will learn about in Washington DC.

“We’ve worked hard to build community partnerships with the police, fire, and local businesses,” said Avonna Starck, T.R.I.P co-founder and Fridley School Board member. “This isn’t just about raising money, it is about supporting our kids.” Starck has a background in political campaign management and fundraising, making the transition to co-running such a committee seamless.

Anoka County Commissioner Mandy Meisner helped create the program in 2016 with Starck, school board member Donna Prewedo, and parent Tarole Rettke. “After our huge success in 2016 we knew that we hit a nerve in the community." Meisner said. “Fridley is a tight knit group and eager to support these deserving students.”

The idea to partner with the Fridley police department came from the kids themselves when they personally challenged the police department to become the first official community partner. Collaborating with local law enforcement builds community partnerships that the kids can count on in their daily lives. As a community partner, the police department will serve as a support system for the kids by attending fundraisers and helping sell gala tickets.

Police Director of Public Safety Brian Weierke was eager to get in on the fun on behalf of the department. “Any chance to support our local youth and build positive relationships is something our department is excited to participate in,” Weierke said.

To learn more about T.R.I.P. and our calendar of events, or to become a community partner, visit the Public Fridley T.R.I.P Facebook Page. Tickets to the March 8 are $20 and can be purchased at on-line at the Fridley Schools Foundation website, or at the door for $25pp.

See the Patch EVENT DETAILS.