News: Briar Woods Students Raise $1,000+ for Namesake School Devastated by Tornado in Oklahoma

(May 22, 2013) - Briar Woods High School junior Brooke Wivagg was listening to the news reports this week late at night about the devastating tornado in Oklahoma when she heard "Briarwood School" mentioned.

"I said, 'What? Is that my school'," Wivagg said. While her high school in Ashburn is safe and sound, the Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, Okl. was almost destroyed and this prompted Wivagg to act.

She approached her newspaper teacher Kelly Colebank for assistance, and the two immediately went in search of Briar Woods High School principal Ed Starsinzki for his approval to launch a school-wide fundraiser. Brooke had the idea to collect spare change from her fellow students, and send the proceeds to Briarwood Elementary to help with the rebuilding process.

This fundraising effort caught on through social media, and the eagerness of the community to help. Wivagg and her classmates raised more than $700 in less than eight hours. And the coins and bills kept on coming today. By the time she adds up the donations tonight the figure raised is well over $1,000.


"My goal is for us to raise enough money to help contribute books to a new library or build a new playground for Briarwood," said Wivagg.

Collections jars will continue to be set up in several locations in the school, and will be passed through the halls between classes and at lunch through next Friday. A bake sale is also scheduled for next week. Every penny raised will go directly to Briarwood Elementary.