Event helps organizations raise funds

Manning the Hylton/ Woodbridge High School Italian Club booth at the School Spirit Day over the weekend at the Manassas Mall were Emma Lewis, Sarah Heresniak, Taylor Christian, Briltney Ackelson and Claudia Deferre, language teacher at Hylon and mother of Sarah.

By: aleks dolzenko | Inside NoVA
Published: October 01, 2009

Twenty-three exhibitors turned out Saturday to raise funds or promote themselves at the Manassas Mall School Spirit Day.

In addition to viewing booths throughout the day, visitors could also take in performances by the Stonewall Jackson High School cheerleaders, an ATA Martial Arts demonstration, a fashion show produced by the Potomac High School Couture Modeling Group, the Stonewall Jackson Dance Team and the Osbourn Park High School Robotic Team-Metal Jackets.

This is the second year for the event.

"We wanted to give the schools an opportunity to raise funds for their clubs and organiza-tions, and the response I got from them is that they had a very successful day," said Leticia Click, marketing director for the mall.

Jack Hayden with the Future Business Leaders of America at Stonewall Jackson High School agreed.

"We had a very profitable day, making about $300 selling cookies," he said. The funds will be used for club projects such as attending leadership conferences.

The group was also collecting funds for the Support for ASK charity.

Student Rabbia Awan said despite manning the booth for hours, "I've had a great time talking to people and listening to the bands."

Claudia M. Deferre, foreign language teacher at Hylton High School, said her group -- the com-bined Hylton/Woodbridge high schools Italian clubs -- members were raising funds "for a bus trip to Monticello to study the architecture of Thomas Jefferson's home-place."

The exhibitors also included the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital, Sinclair Elementary PTO, Battlefield High School FBLA, Godwin Middle School Ecology Club, Providence Christian Academy Lions, United Martial Arts, Stonewall Jackson High School Lacrosse Team and Field Hockey Team, ACT College, Devy University-Manassas Center, Manassas Campus Northern Virginia Community College, PNC Bank, Minnieland Private Day School, Osbourn High School Athletic Boosters, Northern Virginia Dance Academy and Osbourn Park High School Operation Graduation and French Honor Society.

Upcoming events at the mall include a Osbourn High School Youth Salute Display from Saturday to Oct. 9.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.