Students Fund of Hope will hold a movie-night fundraiser to help the families of Hauser High School students recently involved in tragedies.
The event will be at 7 p.m. Friday on the Hope Town Square.
Proceeds will provide financial support to the families of four students who were injured in a car accident Aug. 29 near the school. Hauser senior Erin Newcomb, 17, Columbus, was critically injured in the crash and remains hospitalized at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Funds are also being raised to provide a headstone for Trevor Frazee, a Hauser senior who died Aug. 23 at his home from an acute heart-related issue.
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It’s the second fund-raising event for the fledgling group, which astounded the Hope community by raising more than $7,000 in July to pay school-related expenses for Hope children from financially disadvantaged families. The group did it by having a root beer float event, accepting free-will donations.
Friday’s event will also include free-will donation, organizer Whitney Budd said.
The start-up organization, which intends to do fundraisers every other month, realized how many needs have resulted from the recent local tragedies, she said.
Newcomb is continuing to recover from a traumatic brain injury suffered in the accident, Hauser Principal David Wintin said. Her mother has said that Erin has started to be awake some of the time and has blinked her eyes and given a “thumbs-up” when asked to do so, the principal said.
The girl was listed in stable condition Monday at Methodist, hospital officials said.
The movie-night fundraiser will be a chance for the Hope community to come together again in the town square to help the families affected by the car crash and by Trevor’s death and to show their support, she said.
Organizers are hoping to provide gas cards, food gift certificates and other financial support for Newcomb’s family as her recovery continues in Indianapolis, Budd said. Describing Erin as an all-around great individual, Budd said the teen was active in sports and volunteering in the community as well as being a good student.
The group also hopes to provide some financial help for the families of the other three students in the vehicle accident — Sarah Vanderlind, Veronica McKinney and John Bragg, who were treated and subsequently released from hospitals.
“We imagine all the families are now faced with extensive medical bills and we plan to make monetary donations to help with those bills and lost time from work, therapies, insurance claims, etc.,” Budd said.
The fundraiser will begin with children’s activities at 7 p.m., including face painting, crafts, a tinkergarten area with outdoor play activities for children and refreshments including hot dogs, popcorn, candy and drinks. A petting zoo from Zoo’Opolis is planned, with a $5 donation for interacting with the animals and for photos.
At about 8 p.m., the movie “Moana” will be shown. It is an animated musical adventure film released in 2016 by Walt Disney Pictures.
Budd said families are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs to watch the movie outdoors.
Supplies for the event have all been donated, meaning all cash receipts can go to the families, Budd said.
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What: Students Fund of Hope movie-night fundraiser for families of Trevor Frazee, Erin Newcomb, Sarah Vanderlind, Veronica McKinney and John Bragg
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Hope Town Square
How much: Movie, crafts, refreshments and activities are all free-will donation. Zoo’Opolis is accepting $5 donations for the families for children wishing to interact with the animals or have photos taken.
Note: Organizers are encouraging families to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to watch the movie “Moana” outdoors on the square at about 8 p.m.
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