1 day Ago By Gina Joseph
Despite the work and all the stress involved, Anthony Vernengo and Parker Vagts cannot wait for Monday’s start of Dakota Fights Cancer Week.Its an event presented by Dakota High School’s Senior Class Council and Leadership Class aims to raise money for the New Day Foundation.“I’m excited to see what the week will bring,” said Vernengo.
Vagts concurred.The two of them, along with students from their council and leadership class including Emma Hutchins, Grace Poole and Sophia Mastronardi, have been working for weeks on the event going on April 14-17. Each day they have something different planned, from games and activities during school hours to restaurant fundraisers at night, the team hopes to engage their school and surrounding communities while raising funds for the New Day Foundation, which provides financial and emotional assistance to local families affected by cancer.
It’s a school project but also personal for both Vernengo and Vagts.“My grandma passed away this past December of pancreatic cancer,” said Vernengo. “She was amazing.
She was always at all of my events. I wanted to do something in memory of her.”“My grandpa has prostate cancer and he’s been fighting it.
.. but it’s gotten worse,” said Vagts.
“My dad also had kidney cancer but he’s recovered. I want to raise money for the foundation because I know they’re helping families like ours.”Dakota High School Principal Kevin Koskos said the event was started by Mario Quaglia, a senior who graduated last year.
“The hope is to engage a large number of our staff, students and community in activities for a great cause,” said Kosko. “Last year we raised $5,000.”Koskos admits he says yes to just about anything his kids propose, knowing the ideas come from students under the guidance of Kyle Young, Dakota’s student activities director and leadership class teacher.
“She’s been great, as a positive force of encouragement,” Kosko said. “She has a wealth of experience that she uses to guide students and to help them orchestrate their plans.”That gives him the confidence to approve a fundraiser like Dakota Fights Cancer Week.
“This is our first time leading an event,” Vagts said.“It’s been a lot of work. There’s a lot of paperwork involved — but it’s worth it,” Vernengo said.
“The response we’ve got so far is huge.”Even local restaurants are cooking up ways to raise money.“I think it’s great that the community is so willing to help out,” he said.
“We have four restaurants donating to the event.”Both Vernengo and Vagts also credited their teachers, Dawn Wagner and Tracy Tancredi, for their support.“Those two teachers are phenomenal,” Vernengo said.
“They helped to bring all of our ideas to life.”Dakota High School Principal Kevin Koskos, left, is shown with Anthony Vernengo and Parker Vagts, Dakota High School students in charge of organizing Dakota Fights Cancer Week. The event starting Monday aims to engage students, teachers and the community in an effort to raise money for a charity that helps local families impacted by cancer.
(GINA JOSEPH – THE MACOMB DAILY)Here’s a look at what has been planned for Dakota Fights Cancer Week at school and in the community:Monday: Breast cancer awarenessTo raise awareness students have been asked to wear pink. In the morning Vagts and Vernengo’s team will hand out pink ribbon pins. During the lunch hours students will have the opportunity to purchase bracelets that were designed especially for the event for $2 each.
During the evening P.F. Chang’s in Clinton Township will donate 20% of proceeds from 5 to 9 p.
m. to the cause.Tuesday: Leukemia awareness day.
The color for awareness on this day is orange. Former student Dario Lucci will bring Treat Yo Self ice cream to the lunch hall. For $5 students will be treated to ice cream served up by Chippewa Valley Schools Superintendent Ron Roberts, with 50% of the proceeds going to Dakota’s event.
Salsaritas at Hall and Romeo Plank Roads will also be hosting a Taco Tuesday and 20% of proceeds from 11 a.m. to 9 p.
m. will be donated to Dakota’s fundraiser.Wednesday: Skin cancer awareness day.
Wear black on Wednesday. During the day students will be given an opportunity to win prizes by playing Pop-A-Shot basketball. After school from 4 to 9 p.
m. Pita Way Macomb will donate 20% of proceeds to Dakota’s event.Thursday: Pancreatic cancer awareness dayEveryone will be wearing purple on Thursday and Vernengo and Vagts will be handing out beaded necklaces to a number of students, who will then be asked to play, “Paper, rock, scissors” with another student wearing the beads.
The winner gets to take the other person’s beads and the person with the most at the end of the day will win a prize. Students will be able to purchase beaded necklaces for $1 each. Bracelets will also be sold during the lunch hours.
After school from 4 to 8 p.m. teachers from Dakota High School will be serving up ice cream at Scoop and Twist of Macomb.
“This is the day we hope to make the most money,” Vernengo said.Friday there’s no school and that will give families time to bag up their bottles.Saturday: Community Bottle DriveSaturday’s event will conclude the weeklong fundraiser with a bottle drive at Ojibwa Elementary School from 10 a.
m. to 2 p.m.
The students encourage all Macomb County residents to drop off returnable bottles and cans to help Dakota reach its final fundraising goal of $6,000.Also part of the fundraiser is the memorial wall.Throughout the week Vernengo and Vagts will have paper signs that students can fill out that say, “I Fight For My Dad” or “I Fight For My Gidu” or “I Fight for My Mom.
”“We’ll create a wall of honor,” said Vernengo, whose sign says, “I Fight For My Grandma.”Donations can also be made to Dakota Fights Cancer online until May 1 at payschoolsevents.com/events/details/39201.
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