Dance Team: Fundraiser for national competition a success

At the JV and varsity football games on Sept. 23, the dance team held a baked potato and raffle fundraiser. After a successful sale last year, coach Kaitlyn Landeza decided to make the fundraiser an annual tradition.

“We had such a fun time selling potatoes last year and made around $800, so everyone wanted to do it again this year,” senior Caroline Li said.

This year, the team ultimately raised around $885, with $750 coming from the baked potato sale and $135 from the raffle. The profit will help pay for the team’s expenses to compete in the USA national competition this March.

The price of the potatoes started out as $5 with butter, $6 with all toppings, and $7 with chili. The toppings included butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, salsa, chives and three different types of chili.

Around the third quarter of the varsity game, prices were reduced to $3 for one potato and $5 for two. When the game ended and people started to leave, the team handed out the six remaining potatoes for free.

“It was so funny because we were trying to get rid of all the ingredients so we gave one guy a potato that was overflowing with butter and toppings,” sophomore Chloe Peng said. “He just looked at it like, ‘How am I supposed to eat this?’”

In addition, the dance team held a 50/50 raffle during the first half of the varsity game. Walking through bleachers, the girls sold tickets at $5 for six, $10 for 12, and $20 for 24. The team made a total of $270 from the raffle, and the lucky winner got half of the profit.

The girls were excited about the community’s participation in the fundraiser and their overall success in raising money for their trip.

“It was cool to see how many people wanted to support us,” Peng said.