MONROE - The devastation after the earthquake hit Haiti left many speechless, but High School senior Jamie Armstrong couldn't help thinking basketball could be a way to use her voice to help with the relief efforts.
Armstrong, after seeing the relief ideas from several college programs, came up with a "Hoops for Haiti" fundraiser.
The Monroe girls basketball team has united with several other high school athletic teams and organizations to bring Armstrong's vision of the "Hoops for Haiti" fundraiser to reality when the Cheesemakers take on Monona Grove Saturday.
Armstrong said the girls basketball team is looking for businesses to donate $1 for each point the Cheesemakers score against Monona Grove, which is also Senior Night. If Monroe beats the Silver Eagles, the Cheesemakers will clinch at least a share of their seventh-straight conference championship. The Cheesemakers are selling "Hoops for Haiti" T-shirts at the high school office and at Heartland Graphics.
"This community lives for basketball," Armstrong said. "I knew it would be a great way for different types of people and clubs to make a difference."
The Student Senate is hosting a techno dance Saturday night in conjunction with their "Pennies for Patients" campaign, which is a week-long fundraiser for children battling leukemia. The Student Senate will donate all the proceeds from water bottle sales during the dance to "Hoops for Haiti".
"Since the Haiti tragedy happened we are teaming up," Student Senate Vice President Carlee Latimer said about the united effort with "Hoops for Haiti".
The 7.0 magnitude-earthquake was Jan. 12, with the epicenter near Leogane about 16 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince. According to the Haitian government, the earthquake killed between 217,000 and 230,000, an estimated 300,000 were injured, and an estimated 1 million were homeless.
"It hit my heart," Armstrong said. "I have a sore spot for people going through that. You can't imagine all the struggles they are going through. Their lives will never be the same. Everyone here has the ability to help."
The Future Business Leaders of America are seeking at least a $1 donation for basketball cutouts that citizens can sign and post in the high school. The FBLA will have bake sale Saturday night in the M Room.
Monroe senior Gail LaVoie, the president of FBLA, said that when she heard about the tragedy in Haiti, she thought an impoverished country is even more in trouble now.
"I felt like we had to do whatever we could," LaVoie said. "I thought if we got everyone involved we could really raise some money."
At 5 p.m. Saturday, various organizations at the high school will have food and games available in the M Room before the basketball game and at halftime. The National Honor Society is having a green team bid. For donations, NHS members will clean up yards in the spring. The softball team will have Sparky the Dog available for photos and the German Club will have German desserts available for the public to make donations on.
The activities also will include a Wii bowling tournament with prizes for high scores. The boys basketball team will have a halftime shootout fundraiser Saturday night. All of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross in Haiti.
Monroe girls basketball coach Kevin Keen is impressed with the team effort at the high school.
"I think it's a very worthy cause and a noble effort," Keen said. "It's turned into a school-wide fundraiser. It's good we can do our small part to help out as a school and community."
Armstrong, after seeing the relief ideas from several college programs, came up with a "Hoops for Haiti" fundraiser.
The Monroe girls basketball team has united with several other high school athletic teams and organizations to bring Armstrong's vision of the "Hoops for Haiti" fundraiser to reality when the Cheesemakers take on Monona Grove Saturday.
Armstrong said the girls basketball team is looking for businesses to donate $1 for each point the Cheesemakers score against Monona Grove, which is also Senior Night. If Monroe beats the Silver Eagles, the Cheesemakers will clinch at least a share of their seventh-straight conference championship. The Cheesemakers are selling "Hoops for Haiti" T-shirts at the high school office and at Heartland Graphics.
"This community lives for basketball," Armstrong said. "I knew it would be a great way for different types of people and clubs to make a difference."
The Student Senate is hosting a techno dance Saturday night in conjunction with their "Pennies for Patients" campaign, which is a week-long fundraiser for children battling leukemia. The Student Senate will donate all the proceeds from water bottle sales during the dance to "Hoops for Haiti".
"Since the Haiti tragedy happened we are teaming up," Student Senate Vice President Carlee Latimer said about the united effort with "Hoops for Haiti".
The 7.0 magnitude-earthquake was Jan. 12, with the epicenter near Leogane about 16 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince. According to the Haitian government, the earthquake killed between 217,000 and 230,000, an estimated 300,000 were injured, and an estimated 1 million were homeless.
"It hit my heart," Armstrong said. "I have a sore spot for people going through that. You can't imagine all the struggles they are going through. Their lives will never be the same. Everyone here has the ability to help."
The Future Business Leaders of America are seeking at least a $1 donation for basketball cutouts that citizens can sign and post in the high school. The FBLA will have bake sale Saturday night in the M Room.
Monroe senior Gail LaVoie, the president of FBLA, said that when she heard about the tragedy in Haiti, she thought an impoverished country is even more in trouble now.
"I felt like we had to do whatever we could," LaVoie said. "I thought if we got everyone involved we could really raise some money."
At 5 p.m. Saturday, various organizations at the high school will have food and games available in the M Room before the basketball game and at halftime. The National Honor Society is having a green team bid. For donations, NHS members will clean up yards in the spring. The softball team will have Sparky the Dog available for photos and the German Club will have German desserts available for the public to make donations on.
The activities also will include a Wii bowling tournament with prizes for high scores. The boys basketball team will have a halftime shootout fundraiser Saturday night. All of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross in Haiti.
Monroe girls basketball coach Kevin Keen is impressed with the team effort at the high school.
"I think it's a very worthy cause and a noble effort," Keen said. "It's turned into a school-wide fundraiser. It's good we can do our small part to help out as a school and community."