Warriors doing good

The+2019+dance+marathon+leaders+displaying+the+amount+of+money+they+raised.

Courtesy of Maya Milstein

The 2019 dance marathon leaders displaying the amount of money they raised.

Key club and Jupiter Environmental Research and Field Studies are hosting community service events.  Dance Marathon on Feb. 29 and the Green Run on Feb. 22. 

“{Key Club works} to help the kids at Shands. We are lucky enough to meet a lot of them, and they even join us at our event to speak and to hang out with us. 

These kids are amazing and their stories are unbelievable,” senior Dance Marathon overall, Cora Gilbert said. 

Dance Marathon is a national organization that raises money for children’s miracle networks, which are hospitals across North America. Key club works directly with University of Florida’s Dance marathon organization to fundraise for Shands hospital in Gainesville, Fla.

“I’m thankful to be able to work so closely with our Miracle families because they truly inspire us all. They have been through so much yet they always have a smile on their face and just want to dance and have fun with us at our event,” Gilbert said. “I really encourage anyone and everyone to attend because it will change your perspective on community service forever. These families are so special and the event is a night you won’t forget.” 

Nationally, Dance Marathon has raised over $300 million for the children so that no child or family has to fight pediatric illness alone. You can purchase a dance marathon ticket through any member or in portable one for $25.  You can pay cash or raise the money online through their fundraising page.

 

JERFSA is the environmental academy at Jupiter High School, focused on educating high school students on environmental issues and working with local organizations to participate in field studies.

“Every grade level has an intensive weekend. Freshman year you go to the keys where you do coral reef studies and learn about the ecosystems as well as some of the problems they face. Sophomore year you go to Corbit and do water quality testing and learn about animal footprints and identifying macroinvertebrates. In Junior year you go to Florida caverns and learn about geological formations and the senior trips vary from year to year,” junior JERFSA member KC Barnes said. 

 

 JERFSA students participate in studies all over Florida, so they fundraise to help with the expenses. The Green Run is a 5k through River Bend Park on Feb. 22 that will raise money for JERFSA academy school trips. 

“The run costs $35 and businesses can also pay for sponsorship positions at different levels. The profits made from the run go to the JERFSA academy to pay for our buses, intensive weekends and studies,” Barnes said. 

 Businesses purchase sponsorships to help provide funds for the award-winning educational program. The Green Run is annually put on every Feb. and has benefited the academy year after year.