Grapevine High School’s cheerleaders planned back in April to make the first pep rally of the school year Hawaiian themed, but after hearing about the tragic fires in Maui, they decided to use their platform to make a difference.
“When we started getting close to this pep rally, it just didn’t sit right with us to have this whole theme and not do anything for the people who have literally lost everything they have,” Morgan Laney, GHS English teacher and head cheer coach, recalled with heartfelt emotion.
“Our cheerleaders talked together about what we could do and looked into the different organizations and felt that the best thing we could do was to team up with the public schools in Maui.”
Next, they went to the school’s student council, referred to as StuCo, to see if they wanted to assist and the immediate response was yes.
All this week, August 21-25, GHS Cheer and StuCo are handing out Hawaiian leis during lunchtime to all students and staff who donate to the relief efforts. They will also be at the gates of Mustang Panther Stadium prior to kickoff of the school’s first football game of the year, and donations can be made through a QR code that will be posted at the concession stands during the game.
Donations will also be accepted online through next week. All contributions will be donated to the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, which is partnering with the Hawaii State Department of Education to directly support Maui Public Schools affected by the wildfire.
Senior Crysjon Scott, who serves as the captain of community service for Grapevine High School Cheerleaders, said that raising funds was the right thing to do.
“We just thought with what’s going on right now instead of changing the theme, it would be a great way to spread awareness.”
Senior Annaleigh Frantz, who serves on StuCo, said the reaction from the students and staff has been great.
“I’m very surprised how open people are with doing this. When they find out that all the money is going toward such an amazing cause, it’s putting a drive in them like ‘oh, I want to help.’”
Laney added how proud she is of all of the students, StuCo, and the cheerleaders.
“We are still having the pep rally. It is still Hawaiian themed, but now we just know we can do something good,” she explained. “The world is bigger than Grapevine, Texas, and we can always do good for other people."