This year, Carmel UNICEF plans  to host their first charity ball, which costs $10 to attend, today from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Freshman Cafeteria with booths from other humanitarian aid clubs at this school.

Kennedy Trypus, member of the fundraising committee in UNICEF Club and junior, said most of the money raised on behalf of UNICEF during the event will go toward helping those in South Africa who were affected by Cyclone Idai, which affected parts of the Southern Hemisphere in March.

According to UNICEF USA, in the 2018 fiscal year, UNICEF raised $598 million for those in need. Considered a “Next Generation” supporter, the UNICEF Club at CHS helped contribute to that amount by raising money primarily through fundraising efforts such as Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. The club generally gets new ideas from its fundraising committee, while other committees help to execute the plan; this charity ball was one such idea that was founded in the fundraising committee.

However, according to Maria Zweig, member of the Carmel UNICEF’s education committee and junior, the idea for the event was somewhat random.

She said, “I think originally, it just kind of came up when we were just kind of joking around. Then people started saying, ‘Oh, that’s actually a really good idea.’ Then we just started planning it. It kind of started out as a joke and then we realized it could actually work.”

In their original plans, the UNICEF Charity Ball was planned for March. Although the original date for the event didn’t pan out, Trypus said it still manages to have a unique way to draw people in.

Trypus said, “We couldn’t get (the ball) to be in March, which is World Water Month, so we were planning it throughout March. Even though that didn’t work out quite right for us, we still were able to host the event in the spring. People will be wanting to go to the prom, but underclassmen don’t usually go, so this event could act as a sort of substitute.”

While this event is intended to be one of the marquee fundraising events for UNICEF Club in years to come, Jill Noel, UNICEF club sponsor and business teacher, and Trypus said they aren’t sure if it will actually surpass the continual success the club has been having with Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

Noel said, “We have other clubs that have also agreed to carry the (Trick-or-Treat boxes). Since I am in the business department, I always put Trick-or-Treat boxes in the (Carmel Cafe and Market). Students, when they come in and purchase an item, are able to donate because the box is just there. In general, that program has become pretty big for us, so I don’t know if (the charity ball) will surpass it.”

Similarly, Trypus said, “Trick-or-Treat was our biggest fundraiser of the year. We raised almost a thousand dollars from Trick-or-Treat alone, so I am not anticipating that the (charity ball) will be as big.”

Noel said, “I just like to see all of the students come together and do something for a good cause. I know it’s not nearly as big as Dance Marathon, but UNICEF is a really great organization that helps underprivileged kids. It is just so important to help raise money, so that is what I think I’ll really enjoy.”

Zweig said raising money will probably be her favorite part of the ball, but she will also enjoy how the ball can bring all of Carmel UNICEF’s members together to work on one event.

Zweig said, “Usually, our UNICEF events are split by the four subcommittees within the club. It’s usually just those subcommittees doing things by themselves. This charity ball could be a good way to bring everyone together in a way that we have never done before.”