Edmond North raises nearly $650,000
With a theme of “Hugs for Hope,” the annual Edmond North High School benefit, BALTO, raised $648,760 to help mainly orphans and foster children.
A packed Siberian Gymnasium on Friday saw thousands of teens wildly cheering as the school ended up with the secondhighest total in the 23-year history of BALTO, or Bring a Light to Others.
The “Hugs for Hope” effort benefits three nonprofits: Mother Huggers, Anna’s House Foundation and Peppers Ranch.
“The kids are amazing, and this is so exciting,” said North principal Debreon Davis.
Leading the effort were student co-chairs Sydney Schuppan, a junior, and McKay Beard, a senior.
“This is the most fun week of the year,” Schuppan said. “This brings the whole school together.”
Beard said she was very proud of how the student body pitched in and helped.
“I came here from Texas when I was 14 and they don’t do that there,” she said. “Oklahoma does, and it’s wonderful.”
Both teens said they would spend the rest of their lives helping other communities and charities, as well.
Beth Jansen is the founder of Mother Huggers, a group empowering needy women and children here and abroad. She said what was done by Edmond North students was in stark contrast to what the nation saw earlier in the week.
“Instead of the sadness the world saw this week in Florida, you bring hope and love,” she told thousands of students who filled the gym, with some sitting on the floor.
Before the assembly to announce the final figures, Jansen said most of the funds would be spent for facilities at Anna’s House Foundation in Luther, a group that helps foster children, and Peppers Ranch Foster Care Community, helping abused and neglected children.
Jansen said Mother Huggers would use whatever funds were left over for scholarships for teens 18 and leaving the foster care system.
Peppers Ranch is planning to build a $1.3 million 22,000-square-foot learning facility on its Guthrie campus.
Executive Director Tonya Ratcliff said the facility would have pet therapy as well as instruction in drama. Now, Peppers Ranch serves 110 children, she said. Recently they’ve purchased another 415 acres and will be able to serve 400 children once that is developed.
She also was grateful for the work done by Edmond North students.
“It’s just unbelievable,” she said. “These are our future leaders. They’re engaged and make life better for all of us. They never cease to amaze me.”
In her remarks to the students, Anna’s House Foundation Executive Director Katherine Craig said the students’ effort would make an impact on children for years to come.
An estimated 180 BALTO prince and princess candidates were introduced during the assembly. Those candidates by themselves were responsible for raising more than $240,000 for “Hugs for Hope.”
This year’s common thread cause for Edmond North, as well as Edmond Santa Fe High School and Edmond Memorial High School, is the Down syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. Each school will donate 5 percent of their respective grand totals to the group.
The next school benefit will be Edmond Santa Fe’s Double Wolf Dare Week, Feb. 26 to March 2. The benefit season concludes March 12-16 with Swine Week at Edmond Memorial.