Following our earlier article on the Trash to Treasure Fundraiser (https://stmarysdiplomat.com/9074/news/two-students-big-impact-the-trash-to-treasure-fundraiser/), middle schoolers Kei and Koh have raised an impressive ¥231,500 yen! Additionally, a generous anonymous donor contributed another ¥231,500 to match the amount, bringing the total raised amount to ¥463,000! Special thanks to Mr.Southall for sharing his insights into this fundraiser¥
An impressive achievement
A key shift for this year’s fundraiser was in the leadership provided by Kei and Koh. As sixth graders, this was their first fundraiser as middle schoolers, and both took on new responsibilities and initiatives. “The dedication of Kei and Koh really stood out to me, along with the enthusiasm of their helpers,” Mr. Southall explained. He was also impressed by their ability to handle conflicts and adapt to last-minute changes. One significant challenge the team faced was their location; they were assigned to the far end of the first-floor corridor, which was isolated from most classrooms. “We were initially disappointed with the location, but we adapted,” he said. To overcome this issue, Kei made a deal with the JAM show committee to mutually promote their events. In addition, Mr. Southall worked diligently to send emails to students, faculty, and parents to attract as many customers as possible on the day of the event. He was extremely grateful for Ms. Hasegawa and Ms. Yamasaki, Kei and Koh’s parents, who dedicated the evening before and the entire day of the event to help advertise and sell the toys, making a significant difference. At the end of the day, the fundraising team was able to sell roughly two-thirds of all the donations, raising about half a million yen! Finally, when asked about future goals, Mr.Southall wished that Kei and Koh could make this event even better through new learning experiences in middle school, and wishes that this event will be continued when they start high school in a few years. He also hopes that new people will take over Kei and Koh’s legacy once they graduate. Mr. Southall concluded his remarks by saying, “The money is important, of course, but what meant the most was the effort people made — coming into school, sending items with their children, even knocking on my door for the first time. That took courage. The time and effort everyone put in was truly appreciated.”
Overall, this event was not only a massive success in terms of the amount raised but also a reflection of Kei and Koh’s passion, dedication, and strong communication skills. The fundraiser demonstrated what student leadership can achieve when initiative meets resilience. So the next time you see them in the corridor or classroom, make sure to give them a pat on the back!
