Docs’ donations help IHS fundraiser

Published 10:17 am Wednesday, September 23, 2009

IRONTON — Cookie dough. Candles. Fruit. Schools have a plethora of fundraisers to bring in bucks for extracurricular activities such as proms and class trips.

But this year Ironton High School sophomores hit upon a fundraiser that surpassed all the others.

When local doctors Jamie and Lauren Schweickart donated two Ohio State University-Illinois football game tickets to the sophomores, class leaders organized a raffle. The winning ticket was drawn Monday afternoon, but not before the students raked in $4,195 — almost twice what most fundraisers bring in.

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“That’s exceptional,” sophomore class sponsor Linda Gagai said. “Normally, if we make two grand, that’s good profit-wise. We truly appreciate the Schweickart continued support of the high school.”

Raffle tickets were $5 each but class vice president Nolen Johnson said the buyers didn’t seem to mind.

“It was pretty easy, compared to selling cookie dough,” Johnson said.

The proceeds will be used for next year’s junior-senior prom.

The winning ticket holder was Katie Murphy.