Sorrows students win sock-hop with Purtan
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 12, 2006
Farmington — When students at Our Lady of Sorrows Grade School in Farmington signed up to participate in the Salvation Army Bed and Bread fundraiser run by popular radio host Dick Purtan, they hopped to it.
And because in February they raised more money than any other school, they were rewarded on Tuesday with a 1950s-style sock-hop, hosted by the WOMC (104.3-FM) radio host.
"You raised more money than any other school," Purtan told a gym-full of Sorrows students, screaming with delight.
In a contest between grades, Our Lady of Sorrows raised $6,900 for the Salvation Army's charity program by bringing money into their classrooms. The program, started by Purtan 19 years ago, feeds 7,000 people per day out of four trucks that set up stations around Detroit. It also provides beds at Salvation Army locations to provide 1,700 people a place to sleep each night.
"It's a moving experience," said Purtan, a Catholic who in April was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. "We feed many, many children, too. Especially in the summertime."
In all, WOMC's fundraiser, which took place Feb. 24, raised $1.8 million this year, and about $12 million since it began.
"Since there are a lot less fortunate people, there's a lot you can do," said seventh- grader Michael Koziara, who helped organize the fundraising drive at his school.
The student council had each grade decorate collection cans with pieces of bread as the fundraiser progressed.
"It's really fun," said fourth-grader Allie Blair, "I like to do stuff for people who don't have what we have."
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First-graders Nadia Sinister (left) and Dana Santilli dance to 1950s music as WOMC (104.3-FM) radio host Dick Purtan hosts a sock hop at Our Lady of Sorrows School in Farmington. | The student council president, eighth-grader Katy Rapson, said the school seemed to rally behind the project. It was the first time it supported Bed and Bread.
"This is a new cause and it's good to help someone new," Katy said. "Especially the younger grades really got into it."
Laura Richards, an eighth-grader and treasurer of the student council, said it also was significant that the fundraiser went to help people from Detroit.
"A lot of kids here have seen people in Detroit and in the local area," Laura said. "And it's good that they can see who they're helping."
Our Lady of Sorrows principal Valerie Henigan said the sock-hop wasn't as much of a draw for the kids as the fact that they were helping the needy.
She added that because they won the contest, the community got to see through local media the charity-mindedness of the school.
"They have dedication and respect for what they do," Henigan said. "This is really a chance for other people to see what I see every day."
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