In just five days, Cranston West students raised $1,854 for the Tomorrow Fund through their Falcon Fest spirit week and its Battle of the Bills fundraiser that ran from May 16 to May 20. Student Council co-advisor Deana Barlow said the events were a collaboration between West’s student council and freshmen class council.

For Battle of the Bills, each grade level attempted to raise the most money during their lunch periods and, by day four of the competition, the school’s seniors were ahead of the juniors by 12 cents. At the final count seniors raised the most money – followed by juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

For the spirit portion of the week, students dressed up for Hawaiian day, character/celebrity day, soccer moms vs. barbeque dads, kindness day and pride day. Freshman Peyton Mays came up with kindness day, after seeing the need to focus on unity and positivity within the school. Individuals were asked to wear their kindness shirts – which were designed by Zachary Leone – or any purple attire to support the Tomorrow Fund. At lunch, students could write what kindness meant to them on a banner that was later hung within the school following the conclusion of falcon fest.

Class of 2025 advisor Mathew Claeson said the shirts that Leone designed came from Mark Morocco at Elmwood Sports – the organization gives discounts on shirts whose proceeds go to charity which allowed the school to purchase shirts for $5 each and sell them for $10 where they sold over 200.

Barlow said the event was a huge success and she would like to make it an annual event. (Herald photo)