Whitefish campaign raises money for graduate banners
A mock-up of a banner featuring Whitefish High School graduate Clay Kann. A group of Whitefish parents organized an online fundraiser to create banners for each high school graduate to display downtown Whitefish as a way to recognize the Class of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in schools being closed since March. (Design by Kathryn Hayes of Kintla Copy & Creative)
A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the creation of banners featuring Whitefish High School graduates to be displayed downtown has surpassed a $4,500 goal.
“During these unprecedented times, our graduating seniors are not getting to experience many of the things they were looking forward to their senior year. Through many suggestions from senior parents, we would like to do something new and fun to recognize our seniors by placing banners of each senior on the light posts throughout downtown Whitefish …” the campaign description states.
“Together we can make this happen and give our students — who are now progressing into adulthood — a sense of pride,” it continued.
On Wednesday, the online campaign — organized by three parents of Whitefish High School seniors, Kara Haugen, Suzanne Kann and Amy Markowitz — had raised $5,105.
“With the uncertainty of what we’re able to do for graduates, we wanted a way for kids to be recognized somehow,” Markowitz said, as Montana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
The three parents enlisted the help of Kathryn Hayes, owner of Kintla Copy & Creative, to design and produce the banners, which will feature Whitefish High School graduates who want to participate. There are 135 seniors set to graduate. Through coordination with Whitefish Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts, the banners will be displayed downtown.
Kann and Haugen noted the idea of banners or yard signs kept coming up among suggestions on how to recognize the Class of 2020. Haugen said there have been parents desperate to find ways to make their children’s senior year special and the community has responded.
“People have been very generous,” Haugen said about the GoFundMe campaign.
Additional funds raised will go to Whitefish Safe Grad Night Committee, of which Haugen is a member. Haugen said the committee traditionally plans the baccalaureate and post-graduation party, which will look differently this year in light of COVID-19. She said one goal is to still purchase gifts to give to students in continuing the tradition of the graduation party raffles.
“We’re hoping to be able to offer them something close, we just don’t know what that something will be yet,” Haugen said.
Whitefish High School is still working on plans for the graduation ceremony.
To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-our-whitefish-seniors.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.