Irvine High School Students Organize Fundraiser for Ukraine
TVT high school students hosted a movie night to raise funds for two organizations supporting Ukrainian refugees: Operation USA and United Hatzalah. Photo credit TVT
On Monday, March 14th, a group of TVT Day School’s high school students decided to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. Inspired by the incomprehensible tragedy in Ukraine, members of the Irvine Jewish day school’s National Honors Society (NHS) organized a movie night and auction fundraiser for middle and high school students. We connected with members of the NHS organization through a representative of the school to learn more.
“Many of us heard the terrible story of Ukrainian children who were cancer patients, stranded in a hospital basement as bombs fell and medicine was depleting,” said Eliott Prezerowitz, a senior and TVT’s NHS President. “That instantaneously made the conflict feel so real. As we discussed the story, we began planning for a school fundraiser. We wished to make a tangible difference.”
The students hoped to raise $2,000 by selling $20 tickets to the movie night. They enlisted TVT’s teachers to offer various prizes, including extra credit, essay help, and baked goods, to create auction items and raffle prizes.
Middle and high school students were invited to attend the fundraiser, which included raffle prizes and an auction. Photo credit TVT
“Students participated in arts and crafts that resembled the Ukrainian flag to show support for the Ukrainian people,” explained Michael Durrant, an 11th grader and NHS member. “When it was time for the raffle, students sat, eagerly hoping that their number would be called. The available prizes were offerings from TVT teachers such as baked cookies or 10% extra credit on a Hebrew quiz.”
The students nearly doubled their stated goal, raising over $3,000 for two charities: Operation USA and United Hatzalah.
“I believe that it is very important to help as many people as possible which is why I wanted to help out with this fundraiser,” said Leah Mahgerefteh, a TVT 10th grader and NHS’s Secretary of Communications. “One of my main goals in life is to help as many people as possible. We raised almost $4,000 dollars in our event, and that money is going to be saving lives.”
Saving lives is paramount to the values TVT imparts to its students.
“At TVT, we are instilled with the values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Tzedek (justice),” said Ronen Mahgerefteh, a 12th grader. “With these values, we felt the obligation to support Ukrainian refugees, taking our Jewish values beyond the confines of our community and making our world a better place than it was yesterday.”
While the event is over, it’s not too late to join these students in repairing our world and righting injustice. The website to donate is still up here. Learn more about the organizations these students are supporting (Operation USA and United Hatzalah) online.