Boston Strong t-shirt drive shatters expectations

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Hansen Elementary students are Boston Strong at recess on May 23. (Moira Sweetland photo)

Hansen Elementary students are Boston Strong at recess on May 23. (Moira Sweetland photo)

The Canton Public Schools are Boston Strong.

That was the clear message sent by students, staff, and community supporters on Thursday, May 23, in the wake of an unprecedented fundraising campaign initiated by four Canton High School juniors in honor of the Boston Marathon bombing victims.

On this day, all six of the district’s schools were transformed into a sea of blue and yellow as thousands donned their custom-made “Boston Strong” t-shirts, designed and sold by CHS students Meghan Peters, Jill Eckler, Courtney Loughnane and Kaitlyn Kelleher, with a big assist from CHS secretary Heather Sullivan and select staff at each of the schools.

The fundraiser quickly morphed into a phenomenon, and by the time the order was placed to Camelot Enterprises of Stoughton, the girls had managed to sell over 3,300 shirts — in a district of 3,262 students — while generating a profit in excess of $27,000 to be sent to the One Fund Boston.

“It’s kind of crazy that something you helped start could take off and make that big of an impact,” marveled Peters, whose initial goal was to sell approximately 775 shirts.

Determined, like a lot of local residents, to do her part after watching the events unfold in Boston on April 15, Peters had contacted various Boston-based corporations in hopes of securing a sponsorship before making the same pitch to her high school administrators.

Meanwhile, around the same time and independent of Peters’ efforts, Eckler, Loughnane and Kelleher also reached out to the school with a similar proposal, and school leaders suggested that they team up on the venture.

Sullivan took the lead in coordinating logistics, while the girls came together to design the shirts, promote the fundraiser, and collect and process orders. Senior Pat Ward also went “above and beyond” in his efforts with the distribution of the shirts.

“I cannot thank Jill, Courtney, Kaitlyn, Meghan, and Pat enough for all their hard work and dedication,” Sullivan said. “I could never have been able to organize this fundraiser without them.”

Boston Strong t-shirt organizers (l-r) Meghan Peters, Jill Eckler, Courtney Loughnane, and Kaitlyn Kelleher with (back row l-r) CHS Assistant Principal Henry McDeed, Secretary Heather Sullivan, and Principal Derek Folan

Boston Strong t-shirt organizers (l-r) Meghan Peters, Jill Eckler, Courtney Loughnane, and Kaitlyn Kelleher with (back row l-r) CHS Assistant Principal Henry McDeed, Secretary Heather Sullivan, and Principal Derek Folan

“We would like to thank Shaw’s and the Bank of Canton for their support,” added Sullivan. “A huge thank you to Myles Duffy at Camelot Enterprises for their generosity and help in making this so successful.”

CHS Principal Derek Folan described the girls’ efforts and the subsequent response from the school district as “awe-inspiring.”

“I am so proud of our students and the entire school community,” he said. “I’m starting to realize that this is a generation of students that demonstrates its courage and compassion with amazing acts of kindness. They were inspired to help the victims, and their work could not have been more powerful or impactful.

“They designed a great t-shirt that showcases strength and remembrance, and their work was a show of unity for Boston and for the Canton Public Schools.”

Echoing the principal’s sentiments, Superintendent Jeff Granatino said the hard work of the organizers and the “outpouring of support from so many different stakeholders” made him very proud to be a part of the Canton school community.

“It really was a student-driven event that turned into a whole community event,” said Granatino. “And it was beautiful to see.”

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