Project Hope has been one of Timberlane’s biggest fundraisers since 2009, with Strut for a Cure and selling Play for a Cure t-shirts to help the community continue to be more involved. Every year more and more students continue to volunteer and participate in this fundraiser. We wanted to get a better understanding of how Project Hope started and how this fundraiser has evolved over the 15 years. Former English teacher, Mrs. Guanci, who started project hope with Child Development Teacher Mrs. Cerne provided us with some insight on how it first began. Current Phys Ed Teacher, Ms. Bird, is currently one of the advisors for project hope informed us how this past Strut For A Cure went and how it has changed since the first one at Timberlane.
In 2009, two students, Elise Saltalamacchia and Rachel Riley, had recently gone to a fundraiser raising awareness for cancer at Central Catholic. They thought it would be cool if Timberlane gave it a try. The two girls were motivated to start their own fundraiser for cancer, both having situations with a family member having breast cancer. They approached Timberlane English Teacher, Mrs. Guanci, with an idea and a date for their First Strut for a Cure.
Their first year they had thirteen students in the group and only eight students in the showcase. To be able to get clothing for the First Strut for a Cure, they went door to door in stores on 125 and the Rockingham Mall to ask permission if they could model them. Some stores, like Delia’s, allowed them to borrow the clothing, as long as they brought back the clothing in pristine condition, so they did just that. They were able to have a local beauty school come in and help do the models’ hair and makeup. At the end of the night, they raised about $5,000 to donate back to the district families. It was crazy how much they were able to put this together in six weeks, just for their first time. By the 2nd and 3rd year, about 100 people had joined. Now, Project Hope has become larger and a more complex student run organization.
Project Hope now has four main committees that come together, and throughout the whole school year prep for the big Strut for a Cure Show. These four main committees include Donations, Advertisements, Play for a Cure, and Design. They all work together and take part in prepping for the show. It has gotten so much more popular throughout the years by students seeing what a good cause it is and how much it has impacted the community. Money is distributed to the communities using Angel Fund donations. These go to those who we know are directly affected. These families are able to spend the money on whatever they’d like, whether it’s one last vacation or going towards their chemo. Some donations also go to families within the district, sometimes a friend may email one of the advisors and let them know about their situation.
This year, students came together to find outfits to fit into different categories at the shows, like Safari, 80s Workout, Future Careers, Etc., that they model across the stage. Along with the fashion show there are also performances done by the students. Like this year Luke Swanney sang I Don’t Wanna Be Ok Without You by Burgchar and Erica Sheffield sang Universe by Kelsea Ballerini. On the Night of the fundraiser, most money is raised through the raffle baskets.
There are about 40 baskets and prizes that people buy tickets and choose what they would like to win. This year the Strut for a Cure fundraiser raised over $18,000 this year.
The first year of Project Hope was definitely a little rocky, but it was all worth it seeing how big it has gotten. The amount of people and money raised has continued to grow throughout the years, and will continue to.
