Students, staff raise funds for charities

Edgewood Park — In 2011, students and staff at the International Air & Hospitality Academy and Northwest Renewable Energy Institute raised nearly $4,000 for local charities as a result of their casual dress days. Students and staff who want to take part in casual dress days are asked to give a dollar to the school’s Helping Hands Committee. During the final quarter of 2011, money raised from casual dress days went to buy Christmas presents and pajamas for 32 local children and one family. Charities benefiting from the donations included Make A Wish Foundation, American Heart Association, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Livestrong, PJ’s for Foster Kids, American Red Cross, Harney Elementary School and Susan G. Komen For The Cure.