Annual dance-a-thon generates $15,000 for ALS research and late tennis coach’s family
The Washington Township High School Interact Club hosted its 16th annual “Monzo Madness” dance-a-thon on Jan. 18 to raise money for ALS.
April Renzetti, the Interact advisor, is in the midst of her 10th year at the helm. She said the concept for the dance-a-thon came about because of previous advisor Tracy Naval. Naval’s sister passed from ALS, and her last name is Monzo, making her the namesake of this event.
Renzetti said roughly $17,000 was raised by students. Each student that participates is to raise at least $50 for the cause. The money can be pledged by friends, family members or the students themselves. After supplies, they netted $15,000 for the Philadelphia chapter of ALS research and the Schuenemann family. Mike Schuenemann is Washington Township’s late tennis coach.
“When we asked the kids if they were OK with splitting the proceeds it was a true testament to the kids in the school,” Renzetti said. “Everyone was on board with donating to the Schuenemann family. The kids deserve recognition.”
Principal Jonathan Strout loves that the event brings the student body together.
“I love events when our kids come together and get an opportunity to enjoy the experience of an all-night event where they can celebrate and be teenagers,” he said. “At the same time, celebrate and be proud of the important work that we continue to do here in raising money for such a valuable and important cause.
The event is a spectacle in itself — the gym was packed with more than 300 kids wearing matching teal “Monzo Madness” shirts. The Interact executive board wore neon yellow.
Some students, like Mike Mulvihill, attended their fourth “Monzo Madness.”
“It’s a rite of passage, almost everybody does it when they come in as a freshman,” Mulvihill said. “It’s a lot of fun to go out here and hang out with your friends and do something for a great cause.”
Some seniors, like Nick Segal and Brett Waters, didn’t get Mulvihill’s memo to come out as a freshman. They are three-year veterans, however.
“I saw a bunch of people doing it freshman year, and I was like ‘wow, that looks really fun,’” Segal said. “I didn’t know what it was all about, then I saw how great it is and how everyone came together and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Waters skipped his freshman year because it landed on his birthday. Though it is a valid excuse, he advises underclassmen to come to the event.
“You don’t want to miss it,” he said. “It’s a night you won’t forget.”
Some students have a more personal connection to the fundraiser. Junior Audrey Wendt is participating to support her grandfather who had ALS.
“My grandfather had ALS so it’s fun to do it for him,” she said. “It’s fun to dance with friends all night. It’s a good cause, my grandmom was so happy when I told her I was doing it.”
Interact president and senior Shree Venkataraman was one of the key planners in this year’s event. She spoke about the planning process.
“When you attend, you only see the finished product. When you’re planning, you see every step that goes into it,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun because we get an idea of how it’s going to go down before it happens. It makes it so much more fun knowing that we were part of the whole planning process.”
Venkataraman said the event is one of the most important things during her time at Washington Township High School.
“Every year we look forward to ‘Monzo,’ it’s like a turning point in the year, it’s right around midterms,” she said.
Scott Bonerbo, Interact secretary, said he loves that kids from every demographic come to the event.
“We come together, have a good time and raise money for a really good cause,” he said. “It makes you feel good knowing that you’re dancing for those who can’t and you’re having a great time with your friends.”
