BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
The Freehold Regional High School District community has raised a total of $15,000 to help the victims of the December tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia and devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands more.
“We had a student-faculty basketball game to raise money for tsunami relief,” said David Hunt, peer leadership teacher at Manalapan High School. “We raised money through donations and what we called relief waves.”
A raffle was held in conjunction with the game. Donated raffle items included a PlayStation 2, a Michael Strahan football jersey, a LeBron James basketball jersey, a $100 gift certificate to Jewelry Design Gallery, dinner for four at the Court Jester, three one-month memberships to Work Out World, gift certificates to the Olive Garden, a Joseph Anthony Basix Hair Care gift pack, and a free cake and four free ice cream creations from Cold Stone Cakes.
A team of about 17 juniors and seniors signed up to play at the event and almost 20 teachers signed up to accept the challenge. Other teachers helped out by selling tickets, selling food and working as security at the game, Hunt said.
Peer leadership teacher Megan Hous-ton said the basketball game was a tremendous success with more than 800 students, teachers and parents showing up to support the effort.
“The faculty managed to pull out a 38-35 victory over the students,” Houston said. “The school was overwhelmed with the spirit and participation of the staff and students.”
Houston said the game raised $2,400 from ticket sales, food sales and raffles.
“The amount that was raised at the game combined with the amount that was raised before the game currently puts Manalapan High School above the $5,000 mark,” said Houston.
On Jan. 28, Ilse Whisner, public information coordinator for the FRHSD, said Manalapan raised a total of $5,136.
Marlboro High School students collected $6,011 by selling hands with students’ names on them. The hands were placed on the walls in the school hallways. Fund-raising was led by the members of the student council.
At Colts Neck High School, the Spanish Club and the National Honor Society joined with peer leadership students to collect $1,800 for tsunami relief efforts.
Students at Freehold Township High School collected $747 and students at Howell High School collected $1,000 to help tsunami victims.
At Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, the Lions Club and the Octagon Club collected 12 large boxes of clothing and several boxes of baby bottles, formula, water purifying tablets, cookware, food and toiletries. Additionally, more than $400 was raised in cash at Freehold High School.
All funds are earmarked for the Amer-ican Red Cross Tsunami Relief Fund.