East Bay alumni invite former classmates to ‘party with a purpose’
By LOIS KINDLE
AMANDA MARRERO PHOTO
Members of the East Bay High School Class of 1988 gather for a group photo at last year’s All-Class Reunion. The event raised $5,000 for their alma mater.
If you graduated from East Bay High School, you’re invited to party like you mean it at the 4th annual All-Class Reunion Nov. 19. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. at the International Independent Showmen’s Club, 6915 Riverview Drive, Riverview, and won’t stop until around 11:30.
“It’s a party with a purpose and a great opportunity to reconnect with former classmates,” said Amanda Marrero, an event organizer. “All the proceeds go back to East Bay. Last year, 600 people came and we raised $5,000.
Marrero said $500 of the total went to the school’s JROTC unit and $500 to the Cherokees’ dance team; $2,000 for two, $1,000 scholarships, which went to Bryce Roberts and Jordan Nelson, who are now at college studying pediatric nursing and education; $1,000 to East Bay’s Technical Fund; and $1,000 to Seniors in Need Fund. Both funds are dispersed at the discretion of the principal.
“We find (the donations) extremely valuable,” said Maria Gsell, East Bay High School principal, adding she uses it to assist seniors from low-income families. “I usually give them a choice between two events they would like to attend or two items they want to buy.
“I use the technical fund to help supply teachers with requests for technology like Smartboards or projectors.”
RICK HILLIARD PHOTO
Bryce Roberts and Jordan Nelson, each received a $1,000 scholarship from funds raised at the All-Class Reunion in 2015. The women are now at college studying pediatric nursing and education, respectively.
Gsell said she will be at this year’s event, albeit briefly, to welcome everyone.
“I’ve found they don’t like me to speak too long,” she said, laughing. “Once an Indian, always an Indian.”
The reunion party will include a raffle of 18 gift baskets assembled by Oops A Daisy Flowers & Gifts in Gibsonton. The baskets will be centered around themes like golf, liquor, wine, hair products and services and tailgating.
“They’ll all be fabulous,” Marrero said. “The hair products and services basket alone is worth $280.”
Tickets for the raffle are $1 each or an arm’s length for $20.
Funds will also be raised through the party’s annual penny-drive competition where decades of classes (i.e. 1960s, 1980s, 2000s) vie for bragging rights and a trophy that’s passed from year to year.
A DJ will spin tunes from the 1940s to present day to get partyers out on the dance floor. East Bay graduate Wesley Buttman, of Buttman BBQ, will prepare and sell beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken and sausage, burgers pasta and lots of sides. Libations will be sold at a cash bar.
And you can reserve memories of the event and your friends at the party’s photo booth.
“I really like having the opportunity to give back to my alma mater,” Marrero said. “And as a committee member, business owner and former student, I want to give others the chance to do the same.”
AMANDA MARRERO PHOTO
Amanda Marrero, of Ruskin, and Wendy Beasley, of Riverview, graduated from East Bay High School in 1998. Friends since kindergarten, the pair shared good times at last year’s all-reunion party. Marrero said attending the event is a great way to reconnect with friends and help the school.
Marrero, who graduated from East Bay in 1998, said the idea for the all-class reunion sprang from comments made at Randy Rowell’s funeral (Class of 1977) in 2013.
“So many of the people from his class talked about having a reunion in a happier time, and others there wanted to join,” she said. Marrero thought it would be nice to raise money for the high school and suggested it to the reunion committee.
“It seemed a perfect fit,” she said.
This year the committee hopes to fund more than two scholarships. Applications are available at the school.
Admission to the East Bay All-Class Reunion is $10 at the door. Tables of eight are available for $100 which includes admission for all eight guests. Even if you can’t go, you can help by making a donation at http://bit.ly/2gbkSFe.
