WAHOO (SNR) – St. Wenceslaus School in Wahoo recently finished their first major fundraiser of the school year – parents, families, friends, neighbors and parishioners were asked for a $25 donation to the school and in return the donors received a specially-designed t-shirt.
The t-shirts are printed and handed out in September, in time to celebrate the feast of St. Wenceslaus. A photo of the students is taken the first day they wear the new shirts.
This is the 15th year for the fundraiser. The first few years members of the fundraising committee would meet and come up with a design for the t-shirts. After a few years, it was decided to include the students in the process.
This was the 10th year that Melanie Mongar met with students in grades 4-6 during Catholic Schools Week to encourage students to submit an original idea or drawing for the t-shirt design for the upcoming school year. Several student designs are chosen as finalists and an advisory committee votes on the design to be used for the t-shirts. Mongar then works with the original design to make it ready for the printer. Mongar donates her time and talent for the benefit of the school. She and her husband Tim are members of St. Wenceslaus Parish, and their children attended St. Wenceslaus and Neumann High School.
When the fundraiser first began, the design and the color of the t-shirt were a surprise until the shirts arrived. Now, the winner of the design is announced prior to the start of the fundraiser and the color of the t-shirt remains a surprise.
Every year the back of the t-shirt features the names and logos of businesses who help defray the cost of the t-shirts. This year 24 businesses donated to have their advertising on the backs of the t-shirts.
The winning entry this year was submitted by Anna Zelazny. She and her parents Michael and Jaci are members of St. Wenceslaus Parish. The t-shirt is white and features a rosary on the front.
“Thank you to all who promote and support St. Wenceslaus Catholic School,” principal Mike Weiss said. “Through the commitment of many generations, St. Wenceslaus School continues to thrive and work daily to spread and grow in the Catholic faith. It is good to be reminded each year of the role St. Wenceslaus played in promoting the Catholic faith and inspiring others to help grow in their Catholic faith.”
