Millburn High School Students Raise over $4K for Philippines

Millburn High School students raised over $4,000 to benefit the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, after they filled the streets of Downtown Millburn on Nov. 23 selling t-shirts and collecting monetary donations throughout the day.

The fundraising efforts were spearheaded by the Key Club, a community service club at the high school, along with members of the Student Government, senior class, Red Cross Club, among others.

A total of $4,200 were raised and will be given to those effected by the disaster in the Philippines, according to Neil Cooperman, an advisor of the Key Club.

“What we typically do to fundraise is design and print t-shirts which we sell,” Cooperman said through email correspondence with the Patch. “This year, the design was created by Shannon Peng and we had the logo printed on the shirts and we sold them for $10. We also had posters printed, which were up around the school and around town, as well as a smaller version printed and inserted into tennis canisters that students used to solicit monetary donations around Millburn and Short Hills.”

Students set up shop in front of banks, restaurants, shops and other commercial enterprises to spread the word, sell t-shirts and collect donations, according to Cooperman.

“The Philippine Relief Effort was mostly a one-day push,” Cooperman. “We have done this type of fundraising in the past when disasters have struck and wreaked havoc in other locations around the world.”

Cooperman added that the students also raised monies for victims of the Tsunami in South East Asia, people in Haiti, as well as “made a strong effort for Central China several years ago. “

“Our most successful efforts were in Japan where we raised $9,000 and Haiti, where we raised $15,000,” Cooperman said.