School breaks fundraising record

Photo provided by Jamie Andrews -- School breaks fundraising record -- Custom Fundraising Solutions of Louisiana owner Sarah Thibodeaux, left, presents East Ascension High Schoool mattress sale chairwoman Jamie Andrews with a check for $16,475. The money represents the profit the school made in a recent matress sale.

East Ascension High School broke a fundraising company’s record last month when students and teachers joined forces to sell 128 mattresses, breaking the former national record of 93 held by Earth High School, school officials said.

After a few months of planning, publicity and hustle, friends and family came to the school on Sept. 22 for the mattress sale.

Teacher Jamie Andrews, who spearheaded the sale, said she had hoped to raise $20,000, but was happy with the first-year results.

Last week, Sarah Thibodeaux, owner of Custom Fundraising Solutions, visited the school to present a check for more than $16,000.

“EA was an absolute pleasure to work with,” Thibodeaux said. “The pride that starts with the administration flows down to the faculty, staff, custodial staff and students and is unlike any that I have seen at any other school.”

Andrews, a history teacher and spirit coordinator at the school, said the money will be used to purchase risers for the choir room and a new mascot uniform, among other items.

Andrews said area residents will get another chance next fall to purchase mattresses “because we hope to do it again.”