When high school students take on a fundraiser the cause is usually something in their own community.
That was not the case for Lauren Mannor, from Lake Orion High School, and Deborah Zenz, of Oxford, whose fundraiser will help communities thousands of miles away in Guatemala.
The two area students teamed to host a charity ball, which raised money to help send 18 doctors to Guatemala.
Mannor said the doctors will be going in two groups of nine, each spending two weeks in Central America.
‘Their goal is to serve 1,000 patients each day,? Mannor said, noting that the doctors will set up their own tents upon arrival.
‘There are no hospitals and doctors nearby, so this is the only time they’ll see a doctor each year.?
Mannor, who has plenty of background in fundraising efforts, became involved when one of the doctors (also a relative) mentioned her mission and the money she had to raise.
In all, $20,000 needed to be raised to send all 20 doctors. The Guatemala Mission 2006 Charity Bash raised over $700.
About 50 students attended the ball at the Gingellville Community Center.
Mannor said that Dr. Mia Taormina had to fight back tears and was elated when the money was presented to her.
‘I, in turn, was very thankful to all the chaperones, the students from Oxford and Lake Orion, the Gingellville Community Center and Shelia Klien, an employee of the center who worked the night without pay.?
Dollar General and Little Caesar’s of Oxford, Lake Orion’s Little Caesar’s, Jets, Domino’s, Hungry Howie’s and Kroger’s and Hungry Howie’s of West Bloomfield were among the donors.
‘These businesses were quick to give and with their generosity the event would not have been the success it was,? Mannor said.
‘It makes me feel so good to see the ripple effects of giving,? she said of the children in Guatemala that were the true beneficiaries of the evening.
Mannor, who participates in the International Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, Student Leadership and Varsity Cheer at LOHS is already focusing on her next item of charity, gathering toiletries with the Key Club in the coming weeks.