Schools

Downers Grove South Raises $65,000 for St. Baldrick's

Sixty-five shavees and student group fundraisers contributed to the total.

Three weeks ago, staff challenged the school to top last year’s donation of $47,000 to St. Baldrick’s.

They did. 

Downers Grove South raised more than $65,000 for St. Baldrick's through school fundraisers, donations and 65 brave shavees. It’s just the second year the school has come together to support the charity, which donates money to childhood cancer research.

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The fundraising involved more than just Downers Grove South students and staff – sons, little brothers, sisters and an eighth-grader from O’Neill all joined in. 

DGS Math Teacher Mike McGinnis, his three sons (Ben, 7, Sean, 4, and Nate, 2) and his wife, Stephanie, raised $11,000 and shaved their heads as a family. 

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Mike McGinnis participated in the fundraising drive last year. The cause resounded with his 7-year-old son, Ben. Ben asked one night at dinner if the whole family, “including Mommy” could shave their heads.

“As a mom, it’s very heart-warming,” Stephanie McGinnis said. “He has a kind heart and he saw this as a way that we could really make a difference…Their motivation is to help kids be healthy like they are. We are very blessed to have three healthy boys. Not every child is that fortunate.”

The McGinnis family raised money by stuffing envelopes and passing out flyers. About 170 people donated money. The family raised $5,000 last week alone. 

Freshman Samantha Tierney raised $525 for St. Baldrick’s as a shavee. She lost two grandfathers to cancer. She wasn’t nervous to lose her locks, but excited, she said. A group of friends swarmed her to feel her buzz cut. Her hair previously had gone down to the middle of her back. 

“It’s really cold,” she said.

Student Activities Director told students at Friday’s assembly that the $65,000 effort was “unparalleled to any high school that I’ve seen.” It was the second year the school came together to support St. Baldrick’s 

Senior George Tibbles told the crowd he used to dread March. His brother, Ollie, died in March 24 after a battle with cancer. Ollie was 7.   

“Every year in March I used to get depressed,” Tibbles said. “I would just think about how much I missed my brother. 

“This all changed last year. I raised $600 for St. Baldrick’s. The experience was so warm and inspiring. This year I was nothing but excited for March because I knew we were going to do this again.”

Tibbles raised $1,400 for St. Baldrick’s this year. 

“(Ollie) would have loved this experience,” Tibbles said. “He would have been so proud.” 

St. Baldrick fundraisers:

  • Daddy/Daughter Dance: $5,300
  • Mr. Mustang competition: $1,200
  • Jump, Trick, Kick-athon (cheer, Pintos and Fillies): $3,200
  • National Honor Society bracelet sale
  • SuperFan T-shirt sale
  • Ribbon sale

Top 12 participants (according to DGS’ event site):

  • Brook West: $3,326
  • Meghan R.: $2,640
  • Nate P.: $2,015
  • John Aldworth: $1,826
  • Cory M.: $1,715
  • George T.: $1,375
  • Joe V.: $1,370
  • Jill Ferree: $1,250
  • Nick M.: $1,050
  • Luke M.: $1,050  


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