After three weeks of fundraising, nine Brownstown Central Community School Corp. staff members collected $1,593.58 for Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis.
Blake Hackman, the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Brownstown Central High School, was the overall winner of the No Shave November fundraiser. BCHS Principal Joe Sheffer came in second.
The other contestants were Superintendent Tim Taylor, Director of Technology Will Hubbard, high school guidance counselor Derrick Koch and high school teachers Brandon Tormoehlen, Dan Schwartz, Mitchell Taylor and Dave Benter.
Throughout November, each contestant had a fundraising can in their office or classroom, and they also could set up an online page for people to make donations.
The first round ran Nov. 6 through 15. The seven participants who collected the most money kept their facial hair and advanced to the next round. Koch led with $187.41, while Tormoehlen and Hubbard were eliminated and could shave if they wanted to.
The second round was Nov. 16 through 22, and the totals started back at $0. Sheffer finished in the lead with $113.93, and Mitchell Taylor and Tim Taylor were eliminated for raising the least money that week.
The overall winner was determined after the final week of fundraising, Nov. 23 through 26.
No Shave November kicked off the student council’s fundraising for Riley this school year. Students can now get involved by setting up an online donation page using the BCHS Riley TeamRaiser portal.
Each month, there will be fundraising opportunities for students. Fundraising will be capped off April 4 with the school’s third Riley Dance Marathon.
Each of the last two years, around $2,300 has been raised, and nearly 50 students have participated. The goal this school year is to raise $4,000 and have 100 students participate.
The school’s fundraising brings awareness to the research and clinical programming Riley offers for kids and their families.