Paradise eighth grade hosts cake walk
Heather Hasty/Valley Press Andrew Portzen pulls numbers out to decide who wins each cake when the music stops.
Heather Hasty
Valley Press
When it comes to fundraisers the ones that include cake are always the most fun. Knowing this, two eighth graders from Paradise set up a cake walk and pie auction to raise money for their graduation. They put together fliers and posted them all over Plains and Paradise to let community members know about their event.
The gym of the Paradise school was decorated from doorways to tablecloths. The potluck started the event, so patrons could eat while they bought raffle tickets, bid on pies or bought tickets for the cake walk. Angel Crawford and Andrew Portzen felt this was the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
"I came up with the idea for it and Andrew and I started planning it," Crawford said, "We thought Valentine’s Day would be perfect for it."
The money earned from the cakewalk will be used to decorate among other things for their goodbye ceremony to the Paradise school. Parents, teachers and community members donated the cakes and pies that were used.
Several cakes made by Lisa French, the school cook and bus driver, caught much attention from all the hungry onlookers.
Last year the students earned about $300 throughout the year with their fundraisers to help pay for the graduation.
"We’re just hoping to earn something," Portzen said, "Just earn anything, a little money for [the graduation.]"
The event marking the end of the eighth grade for these two will take place sometime in May but in the meantime they plan to have several other fundraising opportunities.
"We’re thinking about doing something for the kids," Crawford said.
About 30 people showed up to the event to take advantage to the delicious deserts. Diane Prongua, their teacher and principal Jim LeClaire had a hand in helping with the event as well.
"If we make enough we might be able to go on a field trip too," Crawford said with hope in her eyes.
Although neither of the kids actually lives in Paradise they are excited to be involved in the schools activities and look forward to hosting more events.