Staff Basketball Game Raises Hundreds of Dollars for Local Families

By Jillian Daley

The North Marion High School staff beat the North Marion Middle School staff by a close margin, 61 to 57, in a basketball game on Nov. 29. Yet everyone was a winner because the purpose of the game was not to compete but to raise funds for families in need, and the event certainly did that. 

The fundraiser brought in $296, supporting Family Outreach Advocate Rafael Pelaez’s annual effort to provide North Marion families with food and gifts for the holidays. 

“The game was awesome, very fun; I really enjoyed it,” Pelaez said. “It’s something big, to get students and staff involved helping the families in need, but also, it was so good having fun with everybody. Everybody participated: maintenance, janitors, security, administrators, teachers. I really want to say thanks to all of them for their support.”

Pelaez also noted that student organizers were especially happy with all the support. Organized by the Associated Student Body (ASB), the basketball fundraiser is one in a series of community events that ASB students are spearheading. 

“We encourage anyone to help support us as our efforts work to directly impact those in our community and others,” ASB Vice President Kenley Doubrava said.

Community members were thrilled with the latest ASB event.

“It is such a positive experience to have students and staff collaborate to raise money to help families in our community in need,” said School Board Director Bill Graupp, who attended the fundraiser last week.

High School Teacher Sara Bailey also enjoyed herself at the event, held in Gym 1 at the High School.

“It is fun when a FUNdraiser can be FUN,” Bailey said. “I was impressed that the evening brought in just shy of $300 for the evening. Shoutout to my team for sharing the court and the fun.”

There’s still time to help local families! If you wish to support Pelaez’s fundraising efforts, contact him at rafael.pelaez@nmarion.k12.or.us. Gifts are due by Friday. Dec. 9.

The next event for the ASB will be a week-long fundraiser in February. Look for an opportunity to wear red in support of the effort and to purchase items from ASB. All proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association, an international nonprofit that fights heart diseases and strokes. The American Heart Association has an Oregon and Southwest Washington branch. Learn more at www.heart.org/en/affiliates/oregon-local.