Support PHS aid trip to New Orleans

By John McDaid | Saturday, 31 October 2009
_7518_New_Orleans_Spring_Trip.jpg
PHS spring 2010 New Orleans participants (photo courtesy Kim Cunningham)

Portsmouth High teacher Kim Cunningham led a group of students on a trip to the Dominican Republic last year to build a preschool; this year, she's setting her sights no lower, but closer to home: Next April, she will lead a group of students to assist in the rebuilding of New Orleans, and they can use your help.

Together with a parent from last year's group, Nicolina Kelly, Cunningham is starting a nonprofit to support these humanitarian school trips, called Infinity Volunteers, and the first fundraiser for the group will be a "Spirit of New Orleans Dinner" at Scampi in Island Park on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 6-9pm.

In an e-mail interview, Cunningham said, "Last year's humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic to build a preschool/hurricane shelter was a huge success and really made an impact on the kids involved.....and also inspired other kids at PHS after seeing the documentary made of our efforts."

Cunningham promises it will be a fun evening at Scampi with a silent auction, raffle prizes, and live entertainment by PHS students. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by contacting Cunningham at the high school or at cunninghamk[at]portsmouthschoolsri[dot]org.

Resources
Infinity on Facebook
Infinity Volunteers web site

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Schools

Comments

Zukie

Sat, 10/31/2009 - 2:34pm

Very nice project. Keep up the good work for the high school kids in Portsmouth

Zukie

PatsFan

Wed, 11/04/2009 - 5:54am

While I am all for supporting a good cause(anywhere), I find it confusing that while we can't afford badly needed band uniforms, our drummers are "wearing red sweatshirts" says Silvia Wedge, and to "please dig deep into your pockets" to get them new ones, We can do a fund raiser and make enough to travel long distances to do charitable work for others?Someone once said"charity starts at home". Wouldn't you agree that before we raise all this money to help others we should have our own children taken care of first?
Why aren't we having a fundraiser to get new uniforms so that our band looks as awesome as they play?! Instead of just complaining about it year after year.

PatsFan

John McDaid

Wed, 11/04/2009 - 7:48am

Hi, PatsFan...
No question, our band needs new uniforms, and I do encourage anyone who can contribute to send a check to the Portsmouth Music Boosters, PO Box 21, Portsmouth, RI 02871.

I would like to point out that there are many parallel fundraising efforts, and I'm just not sure how we can prioritize them. PTOs are out there working their hearts out too, selling cookie dough and holding auctions to fund classroom items that should be coming out of the operating budget. When a teacher like Ms. Cunningham goes the extra mile to raise funds to support an educational experience for our kids, I have to respect that. I know it's a competition for limited funds, and I know that these requests are all hitting the same group of school supporters. And believe me, I know that our pockets are not that deep.

The band uniforms are just such a big ticket item -- 200 uniforms at between $100-200 each is the figure Sylvia Wedge quoted a year ago -- that it seems like a tough nut for any one entity. Just brainstorming here, but maybe we could propose to the newly formed Portsmouth United -- the collective 501(c)3 formed from all the PTOs -- that a great project would be a fund drive across all the fundraising groups for new band uniforms. Ultimately, these will benefit every student, so this might make sense. What do other folks think?

Best Regards.
-j

patriotsALUM

Fri, 01/22/2010 - 9:25pm

I agree, quit complaining about the uniforms and do something about it, at least these kids are making a difference and helping people get their lives back together after devistation, you wanna talk about prioritzing? which is more important your little kiddys band uniform, or giving homes back to familys living in the streets? you tell me. This isnt the place to be complaining about band uniforms, the arts and music derpartment spending should be cut as it is, their not pratical dont lead to anything but shenanigans.

Viking

Wed, 01/27/2010 - 10:20am

I was in the PHS Band, and it was a very important and special and important part of my high school education and experience. I loved being in the Band. I think I'll send off a check for ten bucks or so to the Band's support group. If only ever one who was ever in the PHS band who feels about it the way I do gave ten bucks, I'll bet it would amount to more than enough than is needed for new uniforms.