Kindergartners boogie-woogied until they could boogie no more at the kick-off for the second annual Conestogo Public School Dance-a-thon Feb. 23.
The launch of the fundraiser featured the alternate day ‘kindies’ who will not be in class the day of the school-wide dance Mar. 10. The school hopes to raise $10,000 for an all-season, multi-use sports pad. The pad will feature basketball courts, lined for other sports as well, in the spring and an ice rink in the winter for outdoor play and physical education for students.
Co-chairs of the dance-a-thon Jane Martin and Sylvia Atkinson said last year’s event was more successful than they anticipated.
“We surpassed (our goal). We had a goal of $5,000 and we reached $6,000,” said Atkinson. The fundraiser allowed more basketball boards and hoops to be put into the gym. “The kids really liked it and had a lot of fun.”
The DJ services for the event are being provided by Presswood Entertainment, located in Oakville. The company will be providing lights, music and glow bracelets for the event, taking only a percentage of the money raised instead of charging a flat fee. New this year the company will be providing music videos as well. Robert Presswood provides these services for up to 300 school dance-a-thons per year.
“It’s so much fun and it changes for me every day with the kids,” Presswood said. “It’s energetic and it’s a great fundraiser.”
In addition to providing the core entertainment for the fundraiser Presswood’s company provides printing services and a website where parents and friends can donate. Last year 10 per cent of Conestogo’s donations came via the website, something Presswood said other schools may miss out on.
“We do these and we raise $5,000 to $6,000,” he said. “Another school may try to do it on their own and only raise $2,000.”
The dance-a-thon will feature prizes randomly drawn from each child who fundraises, as well as spot prizes for those participating. The top prize for the event will be a lunch with the principal at the Black Forrest Inn.
