Marian Magazine - Marian High School

Marian Students “Walkin’ On Sunshine”
at Annual Walk-A-Thon
Some schools sell books or magazines; some schools sell cookie dough or Christmas wrap. At
Marian, the students walk, run or even skip…in support of their school. For more than 20 years,
Marian girls start their school year like many other students in Omaha, with a fundraiser to
benefit their school and the growing costs of education. On September 24, 704 Marian girls ran,
skipped and walked 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) through the heart of the Keystone neighborhood
in Marian’s annual Walk-A-Thon.
With this year’s Walk-A-Thon theme “Walkin’ on Sunshine,” not only was the day filled with
sunny skies, but this year’s fundraiser also brought in the most money ever in the history of
Walk-A-Thon. So what does a fundraiser like this raise? This year Marian girls raised more than
$110,000.
Walk-A-thon is the only student-facilitated fundraiser at Marian. Each class competes against
one another to raise the most money. Goals are determined by the number of students in each
class times $113.00, for a school goal of $80,000. Congratulations to the senior class, who raised
172% of their class goal and placed first at Walk-A-Thon. This class gets first choice of colors and
themes at Marian’s annual Field Day competition, which is a major advantage.
The classes are very creative in the ways they raise funds. Not only do they ask for sponsorship of
their walk from friends, family, employers, co-workers, neighbors and even total strangers, they
also host bake sales, garage sales and a junior high dance to bring in cash. There are also two
levels of corporate sponsorship, with seven sponsors.
In addition to walking, students are rewarded for the amount of money they raise. If a student
turned in $150.00 by September 10, she has VIP status, which offers free dress days and open
campus privileges throughout the year. If a student raises $75.00, she gets a “free day,” where she
may choose to take an extra day off of school. This year, because the school exceeded its $80,000
goal the entire school also gets a “free day” in February.
“Walk-A-Thon is a tradition at Marian,” says senior Rachel Treinen, student board representative
and Walk-A-Thon chair. “I am always excited to see how we can be creative and beat the
previous year’s record. I think the girls really get into the spirit of the competition as well as the
importance of giving back to Marian.”
Marian seniors, Maggie Rossiter, Josie Bettger, Abbey Furlow and Erin O’Brien are “walkin’ on sunshine” at
annual Walk-A-Thon
Marian’s Largest
Fundraising Event Gets
a Taste of the Blues
On October 9, Marian High School
transformed into a full blown, soulful House
of Blue for its largest fundraising event of the
year, the 29th annual MarianFEST.
Although the décor also played off of
moody blues, the theme had an intentional
double-meaning. This year, Marian proudly
introduced a new, blue uniform, to embrace
all that is Marian. By wearing the new
uniform, the girls better express and identify
themselves as the confident, independent,
thinking leaders that they are.
The evening began with mass at the Servants
of Mary Chapel, but the bluesy festivities
resided in Marian’s student center and gyms.
Though the theme for the night was House of
Blue, Head of School Susan Toohey assured,
“There ain’t no blues in this House of Blue.”
The house was packed with members of
Marian’s community who are true blue to the
end, and helped raise more than $377,000.
From smoky street lights and saxophone
players, to gourmet, barbequed cuisine—
more than 500 guests enjoyed the student
choirs’ soulful hymns as they strolled though
the streets of the Silent Auction calling
guests to dinner. Marian alumna and radio
personality, Nikki Boulay ‘88, was the mistress
of ceremonies for the evening’s program.
Sister Mary Gehringer ‘66, also an alumna
and p rovincial for Marian’s sponsoring order,
the Servants of Mary, began the program
by welcoming everyone. Head of School
Susan Toohey continued with her thanks for
supporting Marian’s House of Blue.
Following dinner, the Oral Auction featured
a variety of exciting items. Guests had a
chance to bid on vacation destinations to
Okoboji, Montana and Manzanillo. The sport
enthusiasts bid on big ticket items such as
premier seating at Chicago Cubs and Boston
Red Sox games. Dan and Teresa Hult, parents
of three Marian alumnae, won the $10,000
raffle drawing, which concluded the Oral
Auction.
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