The student body of St. Gregory the Great Academy took purposeful steps to help their school community May 16 during their 30th annual walk-a-thon. The event, held on the grounds of the Hamilton Square campus, raised about $10,000 for the Academy’s emergency fund intended to aid St. Gregory families in time of need.
Dr. Jason C. Briggs, principal, shared the genesis of the annual fundraiser which has raised more than $350,000 since its inception in 1986.
“Thirty years ago, [then principal] Sister Nora Nash initiated the first walk-a-thon to help raise funds to build the parish center,” he noted. “Needs have changed and today we use the proceeds from walk-a-thon to provide emergency tuition assistance for families who have encountered unexpected hardships during the current school year.”
Student walkers were divided into three groups to circle the parking lot and campus in 45-minute periods. Bonnie Mazzola, whose son is a third grader in the academy, was enlisted to help in the annual project and consulted with Dr. Briggs to add a few new, colorful touches this year.
“We wanted to make it more fun,” Mazzola said, explaining the presence of a special furry guest who walked with the preschoolers and students in grades kindergarten to four. “Their eyes got really big when they saw [costumed mascot] Boomer from the Trenton Thunder [AA baseball team] walk with them, and he gave them ‘high fives’.”
The three groups of walkers, dressed in matching white t-shirts, didn’t stay monochromatic for long. Each were “ambushed” by their teachers who threw allergy-free, environmentally friendly powder which showered down upon them in rainbow colors.
“It looked fantastic,” exclaimed Mazzola of the kaleidoscope results. “Even some of the older kids who don’t usually smile loved it.”