Funderwear: SJA vs. Cor Jesu to fund St. Patrick’s Center
At the end of the game, St. Joe students storm the court and celebrate their victory in basketball.
January 26, 2018
On Thursday, January 11, St. Joe faced off with Cor Jesu Academy in the 13th Annual Funderwear Competition and Game, which collected socks and underwear for St. Patrick Center and played a game of basketball.
As the home team, St. Joe packed the gym with hundreds of students from both schools, a sea of red and an army of angels. Many cheers were yelled across the gym, and both schools stormed the court at exciting moments, such as the announcement of more than 17,000 socks and underwear were collected.
Mrs. Diane Everitt, Spirit Club co-moderator, reflects that Funderwear “makes a huge difference for the homeless in St. Louis.”
Through this friendly competition, St. Patrick Center is able to save thousands of dollars needed to provide these essential socks and underwear for our dear neighbors who are homeless or almost becoming homeless.
In the weeks leading
up to Funderwear, St. Joe and Cor Jesu collected the items at their schools.
Freshman class officers and other students publicized the game by making signs to hang around the school. Also, on Wednesday morning, free coffee was given to parents and students dropping off socks and underwear or donating spare change, which went to go buy more goods for the collection.
St. Joe’s dance team performed during the game’s halftime, and there were two raffles for $50 Visa gift cards, won by two St. Joe students. Spectators could pay to get into the game or donate socks and underwear for the price of admission.
Angels enjoyed lots of food at the game, too. Those who stayed after school to watch the JV game received pizza courtesy of The Spirit Club. Also, the Father’s Club provided BBQ for all those at the game.
Mrs. Everitt especially loved the “enthusiastic students who kept the cheers going all night.”
Co-president of Spirit Club Chickie Slane loves the game and leading cheers in the stands.
“It is so fun seeing everyone come together and support a good cause,” Slane said.
St. Joe won the basketball game with a score of 54 to 33. The varsity basketball team includes Kate Sullivan, Mary Labelle, Tiffany Sakamoto, Allie Westphale, Anna Welch, Erika Pudlowski, Annie Lally, Catey Roux, Alex Kerr, Zoey Little, Michele Origliasso, and Annmarie Tyson, coached by Julie Matheny and assistant coaches, Bob Goessling and Tim Stock.
St. Joe also won the tug-of-war contest with 10 very strong angels and many people cheering them on.
Everitt noted that the newly added tug-of-war competition (which St. Joe won) included “a team made up of students from all four classes.”
For 35 years, St. Patrick Center has helped the homeless in the St. Louis area to find housing, healthcare, and employment through programs to anyone who suffers from homelessness or exists as a risk of becoming homeless. This nonprofit organization gives opportunities to about 7,200 individuals and families every year and works toward Housing First, which exists as an approach in helping the homeless find housing and providing necessary services as quickly as possible. Because of the work, service, and love from St. Patrick Center, in 2017 alone, 103 people who were at risk of becoming homeless were prevented from becoming homeless; 2,177 were given housing support; and there were 599 new housing placements.
“All high school students, I believe, love friendly competition,” Isabella Smith, vice president of communications for Spirit Club, said. “Funderwear is an opportunity for SJA to face off against one of our fiercest rivals in many sports and hopefully bring home a win, which we did in basketball and tug-of-war this year. The competition is exciting and adds a unique element to an ordinary game, all while helping a great cause.”
