AscenDance Radio doesn’t normally don’t cover this type of event, this is one of a community that came together after a tragedy that’s now getting national attention. While we do have an online home for great dance music, we also are physically based out of South Florida and decided to help give back to the community around us, especially one as selfless as this one.
On April 24th 2010, the AscenDance Radio staff came a across a car wash being held by young kids. Now this isn’t unusual in itself as on the weekends you can find this on every street corner. What made this car wash different though, was the reason why these children were raising money. The kids? Part of the International Bachelorette Program at Deerfield Beach Middle School. The cause? Fellow classmate Josie Lou Ratley. Here is a quote from the The Sun-Sentinel as to why Josie needed their help:
Ratley, 15, suffered brain damage on March 17 when she was assaulted after school at a campus bus stop by Wayne Treacy, who was angry at her because of an earlier text message exchange. Treacy, 15, of Pompano Beach, was wearing steel-toed boots as he repeatedly stomped on Ratley’s head in an attempt to kill her, according to prosecutors.
We had a chance to speak with Doctor DelPino, who pushed through her Laryngitis to speak with us:
CandyGram Girls – Josie Lou Ratley by AscenDance Radio
Doctor DelPino: Hi I’m Doctor DelPino. I’m with the International Bachelorette Program at Deerfield Beach Middle School. Today we are at the corner of Lyons and Hillsboro at the 7 Eleven because we’re holding a car wash for Josie Ratley the young girl that was hurt after school on St. Patrick’s day. The classmates have rallied to raise as much money as possible because they heard that she did not have insurance.
Today it’s a group of girls called the candy gram girls they are also members of the International Bachelorette program at Deerfield Beach middle school and they’ve today raised I don’t even know how much they’ve raised yet but I know they’ve raised a good bit of money. In addition to the car wash they’re also selling bracelets, they’re selling t-shirts with Josie Ratley’s artwork. Excuse my voice, I have a little bit of laryngitis but they’re also going to be holding a glam-a-thon next Friday night.
It costs $100 for the young girls to attend and they’re going to do a sort of fashion expose but the money is going to be going for Josie Ratley. We are also holding a masquerade formal. The eight grade the International Bachelorette students are also wanting to raise money for her so the proceeds of that dance is going to go for Josie Ratley. In addition we are going to be selling critter cakes that have been highly discounted from Wal-Mart. They’re called critter cupcakes. And its cute little dog cup cakes and were going to sell them for mother’s day for $5.00 and again the proceeds are going to go for Josie Ratley.
The kids in this program most of them did not even know her however they’ve really rallied to help her in so many ways. Part of the requirements of the program is that they do community service hours almost every one of the girls here have the required hours already but they wanted to do more and these girls and these young boys from the program are so overwhelmingly wonderful that they will do anything they can for a good cause. You know when you hear about all the bad things that are going on in schools today you really need to take notice of what the kids are doing that are really phenomenal and they’re doing fantastic things to help others. So moving mountains at age 11, 12 and 13 it’s incredible.
Dayanna: That’s great to hear. And is there any place that they can go online to donate or is there any way that they can get a hold of somebody in order to make that possible for you? To help you out?
Doctor DelPino: If you want to make some donations you can contact me rdelPino@browardsschools.com and I can give you the information where they will be taking the donations at one of the local banks or I guess honestly they do have an attorney and that perhaps you can give donations through them and its Gordon & Donner.
Dayanna: Okay thank you so much.
AscenDance Radio would like to say a special thanks to the students who gave up part of the weekend and volunteered at this event to help a fellow classmate in need.
If you would like to read more about this story or if you would like to help, please check out The Sun Sentinel.
You may also contact Doctor Delpino at rdelPino@browardsschools.com
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