It’s off to the mattresses for Johnston School Music Association

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When Johnston High School music teacher Matt Gingras suggested a “Mattress Fundraiser,” department chair and band director Ronald Lamoureux said, “Quite frankly, it sounded a little crazy!”

In his travels, Lamoureux observed schools in nearby Massachusetts and others states holding “Mattress Fundraiser” sales, so he told Gingras “this is worth a conversation with the rep from the company.”

Lamoureux and Gingras met with Jason Glander, the Rhode Island representative with Custom Fundraising Solutions (CFS) that has raised millions of dollars through mattress sales and has given back over $18 million to school groups across the country since its inception in 2005.

Glander told Lamoureux and Gingras, “The products are all fresh from the factory and are indeed the same brand names you can buy in the big box stores.”

“Rhode Island is a new market for this group,” Lamoureux said. “Several groups from around our state have signed on with CFS and have been pleased with the results of their respective sales.”

It’s now full steam ahead and this Saturday, March 4, when the Johnston Music Department will host the “Mattress Fundraiser” inside Edward L. DiSimone Gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The gym will be transformed into a 20-plus-bed showroom and filled with all sizes and styles featuring such name brands as Simmons Beautyrest and Restonic Mattresses that will be on sale for 50 percent off retail prices.

“The Johnston School Music Association [JSMC] is really looking forward to this event because it is the only fundraiser that we have done in a long while that can help fill the coffers and pay for senior scholarships, lend financial help to some of our more needy students for travel and fund our annual banquet,” Lamoureux explained. “This event will benefit the JSMA and gives individual students dividends for their accounts.”

The “Mattress Fundraiser” will raise revenue to help fund the JSMA’s trip to Williamsburg, Va., where the JHS band, Concert Chorus and Select Choir will compete against schools from all over the country in the annual Music in the Parks Festival.

“We have spent the entire school year trying to help the kids participate in our competition trip,” Lamoureux said. “It will be great to continue those efforts and be able to take care of those other initiatives.”

Lamoureux also explained “Our kids and parents are helping out at the event with organization and greeting guests. We are looking forward to a community event with loads of participation. Also, we’re really looking foreword to representing the town on a national level to the best of our abilities.

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