Typically, MCHS Academic Boosters Club holds a fall fundraiser at Savoury’s, including dinner, dancing, blackjack, and a silent auction. But this is not a typical year.
“We know many of our local businesses suffered as a result of the Detwiler Fire,” said ABC board president Jill Harry. “We do not wish to add to their financial burdens by requesting silent auction items or, in Savoury’s case, using the space when it could otherwise be used to serve customers.”
Donations to ABC benefit academic enrichment for MCHS students. Pictured above: (front row) Ramiro Marquez, Diego Naranjo, Callie Nance, Heather Livingston, Devon Acker-James, Sawyer Shaddix, (middle row) Kaydence Walker, Audrey Ogilvie, Sierra Hennies, Izamary Marquez, Taylor Jones, Anna Sergienko, (top row) Yasmenna Sulaiman, Reese,Radanovich, Quinn Whatley, Violet Matlock, Blake Atkins, and Samantha Norman.
“We do want to thank all of our donors from past events,” continued board member Tara Schiff. “And we encourage everyone to eat in their restaurants and purchase their products.”
The full list of last year’s donors to the fall fundraising event (see below) is in the accompanying box.
In place of the fall fundraiser event, ABC will be ramping up its Season of Giving fundraising campaign, first implemented last year.
“A good number of people think about giving to nonprofit organizations toward the last quarter of the year,” said Harry. “We will be sending out letters to our database of supporters and advertising on our website and on social media to let the community know how important donations are to ABC, what programs they support, and that donations are tax deductible.”
“We did this for the first-time last year and it was successful,” said Harry. “With the absence of our normal fall fundraising event, we need it to be even more successful this year so we can continue to fund our programs.”
ABC’s mission is to supplement and enrich academic experiences and provide educational tools for Mariposa County High School students. The organization does this in a number of ways.
“One of our most popular programs is a monthly Career Lunch,” said Schiff, who is in charge of Career Lunches this year. “We bring in speakers from a wide variety of fields to talk with students about the paths they took to their careers and what their jobs are like. At the same time, we provide students with lunch from local eating establishments.”
This year’s Career Lunch speakers include Tony Borreson, owner of Airborrn Aviation Services and manager of the Mariposa/Yosemite Airport; Don Costa from Costa Livos Olive Oil; local artist Penny Otwell; and Dallin Kimble, Mariposa County CAO.
“I am working on a great line up of speakers,” said Schiff.
Another program is Passport to Success whereby students who regularly make the effort to get tutoring before school starts, at lunch, or after school are rewarded every quarter with $10 gift cards to their choice of Dabbles, Yosemite Treats, Jantz Bakery, or Pizza Factory.
ABC also funds teacher requests for items such as field trips and curriculum.
“We also have a few new programs in the works,” said Harry. “We look forward to announcing them as they get closer to implementation.”
For more information about ABC and more of the programs the organization funds, visit the website mchsabc.org.
You can donate to ABC by sending checks to PO Box 1292, Mariposa, CA 95338. Credit card donations are possible at ABC’s website, mchsabc.org.
“You can feel confident in knowing that your donations go to supporting MCHS students,” said Harry. “We will also send you a thank you note and a receipt to use for tax purposes.
MCHS Academic Boosters Club, Inc. (ABC) is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to supplement and enrich academic experiences and provide educational tools for Mariposa County High School students. For more information, visit the website: mchsabc.org; contact info@mchsabc.org; “like” ABC on Facebook: MCHS Academic Boosters Club, or follow MCHS_ABC on Instagram or Twitter.
