Maspeth High School students set up a haunted house and carnival last week, which raised close to $2,000 for Shriners Hospital for Children. Photos Courtesy Maspeth High School
Maspeth High School was transformed into a sea of ghoulish fun last Friday, when hundreds of students and their families attended a Halloween carnival and haunted house to raise money for Shriners Hospital for Children.
The high school’s Key Club – an international organization that raises money for a wide variety of charities – sponsored the festivities, which included pumpkin carving and decorating, games, baked goods, and more.
Students don costumes for Friday’s festivities.
Describing the haunted house as “one huge hallway with people jumping out at you,” Maspeth’s Key Club President Cindy Pietrakowski also noted that the group held a Halloween carnival last year – which was so successful that they wanted to do it again.
Once again, this year’s festivities of fright were a success – more than 353 guests raised close to $2,000 for Shriners Hospital for Children, a network of 22 nonprofit hospitals across North America.
Friday’s event highlighted not only the students’ commitment to Shriners, but the overarching goals of the Key Club – and the dedication of its members to causes that help individuals in need across the globe.
“It’s a great way to get leadership experience and skills,” Pietrakowski, a junior, said of Key Club. “I meet people from throughout the city and state, and it’s a lot of fun. The events we have are definitely memorable.
“And it helps the community,” she continued. “We’ve given thousands and thousands to different charities.”
In addition to giving a boost to charities, the group has helped its own members.
Event-goers got to decorate – and eat – cupcakes at the high school.
“When I first started high school, I was like any other freshman – I was kind of shy,” Pietrakowski said. “Now I have no problem going up in front of the high school and giving a speech.”
Maspeth High School’s Key Club and Red Cross Club will continue to raise money for Shriners on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at a Halloween movie night. The event, at which “The Eye” with Jessica Alba will be shown, will also raise money for CPR certification for Red Cross Club members.
“We really want to be CPR certified – and certification costs a lost,” said Red Cross Club President Mateo Osorio, a junior.
Founded at the school three years ago, the Red Cross Club has grown to be an integral part of the Maspeth High School community, Osorio said.
“It’s important,” he said. “We like to help the community – I love helping people.”
Jessica Anderson, the Key Club’s advisor and a Latin teacher at the high school, stressed the importance of both events and the causes the support. She noted that Key Club members will likely take a trip to Philadelphia to visit a Shriners location in order to see their donations in action.
“They’re seeing first-hand the results of their hard work,” Anderson said of both clubs.
By Anna Gustafson
