Student Telethon Drums Up Donations For SEE Fund
 Jessi Payton and Bree Flynn-Kasuba work the phones at a telethon for the SEE Fund held Mount Greylock Regional High School on Tuesday night. Top, with Ned Kleiner, Hollie Walker and Haley Mahar, |
A few minutes later, Jessi Payton threw her arms in the air: "I made $25!"
It wasn't going that well for Bree Flynn-Kasuba, who'd dialed 40 numbers only to get no answers or just nos.
"It's a little frustrating," said the junior and Student Council member. "Once you start asking them and they say no ... and then you have to thank them."
What they were asking for were donations to the school's SEE Fund, for Sustaining Educational Excellence. The fund's made grants of more than $130,000 over the past dozen years to supplement educational and athletic programs at the high and middle school.
Established by Williamstown Savings Bank, Storey Communications, Williams College and the former GE Plastics division, the fund's supported field trips, weight room equipment, technology needs and even the Japanese Peace Garden.
But the recession's played havoc with the fund, seriously depleting its ability to provide annual grants.
 The phone seemed glued to Kleiner's head. |
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"We don't really know what to expect. We've never done this before," he said. "It would be nice if we got $2,000 or $3,000. ... Our hope that if we do this in the fall and the benefit in the spring, we bring [the fund] back up."
There are some things school budgets can't fund in these economic times, said board member Lee Harrison, which makes grants from the SEE Fund even more important.
So for two hours on Tuesday night, a dozen or so volunteers, mostly Student Council, fortified themselves with pizza and called friends, family and strangers to drum up help.
"I was very excited to do this," said Payton, a senior and president of the council. The idea had come about in discussions after a student member of the SEE board, Spencer Rioux, approached the council about getting involved. "I thought it was a great idea."
The students were provided with a script to help them explain the fund, how it helps the school's current programs and how to donate, as well as fund facts to answer donor questions.
Sophomore Haley Mahar, who'd snagged that $50 from her parents, and Flynn-Kasuba said raising money for the fund was worth spending time on the phone.
"Yes, it's important, especially for Mount Greylock," sais Flynn-Kasuba. "Our school could use the money ... like for lacrosse. It's not a school sport but a lot of kids are playing it. The cost is holding so many people back."An hour in, the tally was $300 pledged. But there were also people contacted who said they would be mailing in donations in the envelopes sent to homes last week and, hopefully, people missed who might be doing the same thing.
More classmates arrived as the teens continued dialing for dollars.
"We hope you can donate any amount to help us," Ned Kleiner spoke into his phone, checking off one more name.
To donate to the SEE Fund, make checks payable to Mount Greylock Regional High School SEE Fund and mail to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 271 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230, or online at Berkshire Taconic.
