Odyssey team reaches fundraising goals

Photo of the team after the car wash

The team accepts a $500 donation from Voorheesville Community and School Foundation President Nancy Rucks, who drove home in a sparkling clean vehicle after attending the team's car wash fundraiser.

May 13, 2009 – Thanks to the generous support of the entire community, Voorheesville Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team has raised enough money to fund their trip to Iowa for the World Finals competition later this month.

“On behalf of the entire team, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped us reach our fundraising goal,” said Jean Mackay, the team’s coach. “This trip simply would not have been possible without the incredible show of support that we received.”

The group raised approximately $10,000 to cover the cost of registration, accommodations and travel for each team member and a few chaperones.

The team of sixth-graders—Matt Feller, Wolfie Gehring, Ben Mackay, Braeden Morrison, Sarah Murray, Lydia Parker and Alex Relyea—began planning a series of fundraising events after winning the “Lost Labor of Heracles” Division II competition at the state championships in early April.

In addition to raising funds through a duct tape fundraiser, raffle, car wash and bake sale, the group received contributions from a number of school groups, including the Voorheesville Central School District, Voorheesville PTA, Clayton A. Bouton High School’s Student Council and Honor Society and the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation.

Local businesses, such as Indian Ladder Farms, Morrison Engineering and Jimco, also provided significant financial donations, and more than 35 Capital District businesses donated goods and services in support of the team’s fundraising raffle.

"So many people helped us reach our fundraising goal," said Mackay. “From Mr. Burch, Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Sapienza who were great sports in our duct tape fundraiser to Crossgates Mall and Emma Cleary’s Café that let us sell raffle tickets, to the local firefighters who connected water to the Hannaford parking lot so we could wash cars, to the numerous families who donated baked goods and the teachers, friends and family members who made donations—we live in a fantastic community.”

Now that the funding has been secured, the team is focusing on their final preparations before they compete against students from more than 64 middle schools worldwide. Their goals include having fun, doing their best and beating their ninth place finish from last year.


A flurry of duct tape and three willing participants—Mr. Kaplan, Mr. Sapienza and Mr. Burch—kicked off the team’s fundraising efforts at the CYO-faculty basketball game.	The team sports the New York Statue of Liberty Crowns they will wear at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals opening ceremonies.