Pictured are student leaders at Jamestown High School presenting this year’s grand total for the school’s annual Penny Wars. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

Jamestown High School students set a new fundraising record with this year’s Penny Wars. Proceeds will now go to an English teacher at the school.

The annual Penny Wars fundraising competition is a tradition that was started in 1999. Each year, the high school raises money in support of an important community cause.

This year, $5,525.97 was raised with the junior class winning this year’s Penny Wars.

Anthony Dolce, City Council president and a teacher at the high school, said the new record is “amazing” considering that students are still “getting back into the normal routine” following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Each year we do this for someone within house, and it means a lot,” he said. “It was a unanimous decision this year to pick Desaree Hannon. You can see the need. Her son was prematurely born and he’s gone through several surgeries. Just to be able to give back to one of our own within our Jamestown High School family is important to the kids and important to the staff. It was good, we’re happy.”

Pictured is Mayor Eddie Sundquist getting “slimed” in the Jamestown High School auditorium as the culmination of the school’s annual Penny Wars fundraiser event. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

Korrin Mundo, Hannon’s co-teacher, received the awarded funds on behalf of Hannon, who could not attend the event due to her son remaining in the NICU in Rochester. Hannon is a teacher at the high school.

“She is going through a really difficult time,” Mundo said. “After many years of trying, she found out she was pregnant with quadruplets. She had to reduce because of safety concerns. She gave birth prematurely to twins at 22 weeks, and she lost her baby girl, Josiah. Dawson is still in the NICU. He’s 3 months old, he’s 4 pounds and he is still fighting. He’s a champion.”

Mundo explained that the school wanted to help Hannon since she is part of the JHS “family.” With over $5,500 raised by students in support of Hannon and her son, Dawson, Mundo said Hannon will be able to use the funds to help with the cost of food and other expenses while she remains at the hospital in Rochester with her son, as well as the high cost of medical bills.

“This will help her in any and every way.” Mundo said. “She is beyond words. She is honored that we chose to give to her in this way as we show our support and how much we miss her and we support her and we care for her and we want Dawson to get better soon.”

As the winners of this year’s Penny Wars fundraiser, the junior class had the privilege of “pieing” and “sliming” the losing class officers.

Pictured is Mayor Eddie Sundquist getting “slimed” in the Jamestown High School auditorium as the culmination of the school’s annual Penny Wars fundraiser event. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

Additionally, Mayor Eddie Sundquist was voted to be this year’s special guest at the Penny War event. The student body was delighted as an entire bucket of slime was poured on the mayor, who was in a full suit for the occasion.