Leon High Students Show They Care For Community |
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Published by the Tallahassee Democrat on October 31st, 2009
By Jon McCloud
By Jon McCloud
Leon High students filled the gym with screams and cheers Friday as senior Joe Elliott, the student body president, led a special homecoming pep rally.
A month ago, at another pep rally, Leon was honored by Tallahassee Memorial Hospital officials with a plaque thanking the high school for a $15,000 donation last year to help remodel rooms in the cancer unit. At that rally, students pledged to raise $10,000 more to outfit two of those rooms with furniture, entertainment centers and art work to make the rooms more comfortable for patients and their family members.
It was pledge they more than doubled.
Friday, the students presented Paula Fortunas, president and CEO of the TMH Foundation, and Patricia Hyler, who runs the cancer unit at TMH, with a check for $27,756. With two additional checks on behalf of Leon for $300 and $330, the students raised a total of $28,386 to furnish the rooms -- enough to have an entire wing dedicated to the Lions.
"I am in awe to see these students come together and do something like this for people in the community," Hyler said.
"To be able to motivate 16- and 17-year-olds to be excited to give back and help others is unique," said Rocky Hanna, Leon High principal. "What has happened this month is something magical."
The Leon High community had added inspiration this year: athletic director Mark Feely was diagnosed with bone-marrow cancer in February. Feely learned earlier this month that he was in complete remission.
"It really gives me hope for the future because it lets me know that my generation does care about other people," Elliott said.
A month ago, at another pep rally, Leon was honored by Tallahassee Memorial Hospital officials with a plaque thanking the high school for a $15,000 donation last year to help remodel rooms in the cancer unit. At that rally, students pledged to raise $10,000 more to outfit two of those rooms with furniture, entertainment centers and art work to make the rooms more comfortable for patients and their family members.
It was pledge they more than doubled.
Friday, the students presented Paula Fortunas, president and CEO of the TMH Foundation, and Patricia Hyler, who runs the cancer unit at TMH, with a check for $27,756. With two additional checks on behalf of Leon for $300 and $330, the students raised a total of $28,386 to furnish the rooms -- enough to have an entire wing dedicated to the Lions.
"I am in awe to see these students come together and do something like this for people in the community," Hyler said.
"To be able to motivate 16- and 17-year-olds to be excited to give back and help others is unique," said Rocky Hanna, Leon High principal. "What has happened this month is something magical."
The Leon High community had added inspiration this year: athletic director Mark Feely was diagnosed with bone-marrow cancer in February. Feely learned earlier this month that he was in complete remission.
"It really gives me hope for the future because it lets me know that my generation does care about other people," Elliott said.
