After last year’s successful B+ dance-a-thon, raising about $20,000, the B+ committee plans to make the dance an even bigger hit this year. The previous dance was a great success, reaching the goal of twenty five thousand dollars. The committee is working hard to promote the dance, hosting events such as the successful tennis match between Tennis State Champion Annie Jaskulski ’15 and English Teacher Jake Rashkind. The committee plans on continuing to fundraise for the event in January. The B+ committee plans on going further with school fundraisers on the weekend to promote the event, as well as fundraising challenges between other schools.
The B+ Foundation first started after the death of a fourteen-year-old boy named Andrew McDonough, who died from leukemia on July 14th, 2007. Soon after Andrew’s tragic death, Joe McDonough, his father, was determined to help other families going through the same experience he had with Andrew. Joe began raising money for children struggling with cancer, and it soon became such a big hit that it became an increasingly popular foundation known as B+. Andrew’s family named the foundation using Andrew’s blood type, and to inspire Andrew to ‘be positive’ throughout his battle with cancer. B+ has inspired many schools to raise money and help the foundation make a difference by hosting dances and fundraisers.
With Mr. McDonough coming to the school to speak on December 2nd, the committee has various activities planned. This year, the committee has activated a Twitter account that is used for updates and reminders about what the committee has going on. Grace Gannon ’15 commented, “Meera [Kohli] did a great job of encouraging people to come and raise money, and I’m sure we’ll do even better this year!” Under Meera’s leadership, the committee has been able to accomplish so much more than just a fun dance, but emphasize the importance of why we do it.
Since Andrew went to school right up the road from Friends, many people in our own community knew him and his family personally. People are even more inclined to help and change the lives of children that are in a situation similar to his.
A member of the B Positive committee, Brendan Wren ’16 said, “Watching Mr. McDonough speak last year, I realized that I could impact someone’s life by doing very little.” Brendan looks forward to promote and continue fundraising for the dance and B Positive Foundation as a whole.
Many students express excitement for the upcoming dance, and the committee encourages new members to join and provide whatever new ideas they may have. Hannah Feldmann ’16, who attended the dance last year, said, “I’m really looking forward to all the great music and fun that we are going to have this year, and at the same time helping to cure childhood cancer!”