Fundraiser no pig in a poke

Because of its concern over the toll cancer takes on millions of lives, the Key Club at Minot High School-Central Campus felt behooved to make a difference. So the North Dakota club staged a “Pennies for Pigs” fundraiser to help a local boy named Zach who was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

The fundraiser, which raised more than $800 to help Zach’s family with medical bills, pitted sophomores against freshmen to see who could raise the most money. Each team had a giant water jug in which students could dump coins. Pennies in the jug counted for each team; other coins, against.

The prize? Two Key Club officers from the losing team—and a staff member—would have to kiss a pig.

“This project brought our school together and gave us a real sense of community,” says club president Keaton Nostdahl who, unfortunately, got to kiss the pig along with freshman representative Whitney Mayer and faculty advisor Tami Spiros. “Surely, everyone involved—including the pig—would do it again for Zach and others in need.”

One reason the fundraiser was successful was word of it made its way into the community. An elderly woman, who lost her son to cancer, was so touched by the club’s efforts she donated a giant can of pennies she had been saving for years.

Keaton says the club looks forward to welcoming Zach to school this fall, when he begins his freshman year.