Edison earns ‘Goalie the Gopher’

(Editor's note: School districts in Jefferson and Harrison counties have taken part in raising funds for the United Way of Jefferson County for more than a decade, and the students' and staff members' spirit of caring about their communities continues each year, according to agency officials. The Herald-Star is featuring an area school district and its ongoing fundraising efforts each Monday.)

HAMMONDSVILLE - The buildings may not be the best Jefferson County has to offer, and their district may not be the "richest" when compared to most. Yet, what lies in the heart of Edison Local is far more than many may realize.

Students throughout the district joined administrators and staff members to help raise $7,137 for the United Way of Jefferson County during the agency's 2009 Live United campaign.

This dollar amount surpassed that of prior years, including the $2,858 raised in 2007, according United Way Executive Director Nancy Grim.

Because Edison had the largest yearly percentage increase during the campaign - 149.68 percent - the district was awarded the United Way's traveling mascot, "Goalie the Gopher." Superintendent David Quattrochi is now the caretaker of Goalie and has stripped him of his Indian Creek attire which was placed on the mascot last year by Superintendent Jene Watkins and his staff.

Quattrochi, who worked in the Indian Creek district for 10 years under Watkins, transferred to Edison this past school year. But the current Wildcat still credits his former employer, saying he "learned about the United Way through a great role model."

"(Watkins) always emphasized to us what the United Way represents," Quattrochi said. "And we at Edison embraced that concept this year. All of our principals were involved with doing activities, and we are very proud of both our students and staff. We certainly hope to continue that success again next year."

Records show the Indian Creek district has continuously raised the most money for the United Way with the exception of its 2006 campaign.

But Goalie the Gopher goes to the district with the largest percentage increase each year and not to the district which raises the most.

Grim commented the agency is considering getting Goalie a friend who would be awarded to the district which raises the most money.

Watkins told Quattrochi that since Edison has now increased its donation figures by so much, all he has to do next year is match his dollar amount once again - $8,920 - and Indian Creek will take back the gopher.

But in reality, it's not about the mascot or the recognition, as the two friends said - it's about involvement.

And no one could agree with those sentiments more than Patricia Fletcher, the United Way's schools' campaign chair.

Fletcher said when she served as principal at Garfield Elementary School, she tried to make the pupils aware that they are part of the community and there are always ways people can help others.

"These hopefully will be tomorrow's leaders," Fletcher said of the students. She explained when schools first began collecting money for the United Way, she made sure every child had at least a few pennies to give to the agency, even if she gave them the pennies herself.

"It makes everyone feel good and we tried to instill that this is a two-fold thing," Fletcher continued. She said the involvement with schools today has grown tremendously, and over the past nine years, schools have averaged approximately $22,000 for the United Way, totaling $198,843.

Grim said the "beautiful thing" about having schools involved is that everyone learns to work together and to "live united."

Having schools take part in raising money is important to the United Way because there are now more resources available, which allows officials to make things happen, Grim noted.

"We really want to thank the parents for being so involved," Fletcher concluded, adding that in today's economy, it says a lot about the community's generosity.

Stanton Elementary School teacher Cynthia Bordash coordinated this year's fundraising activities with others from her school during the week of Nov. 17-24. Those assisting to coordinate included Michelle O'Karma, Tammy Saphore and Sara Moses.

Bordash stated pupils participated in decades' themed days, dressing accordingly in 1950s, '60s and '70s attire. Children also brought in their loose change daily, having their money weighed to see which class could achieve not the highest total but the most money in weight. But there was a catch. Any paper currency deducted one-fourth of a pound from another classroom's weight, and soon, dollars were added to reduce another team's weight by a pound.

Ultimately, Stanton's $2,263 was taken by Bordash and her husband to a change-making machine, where the couple spent four hours feeding coins.

Bordash said the school's goal was to reach $2,000, and she is proud that they were able to surpass that amount for the cause.

(Ghrist can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)