City Times Staff

Ninth grade students Kaitlyn Lee, Makaila Coulthurst and Devin Hintz go through new donations for their K-9 fundraiser during class on Tuesday morning.

The three students are part of Art Greco’s World of Business class at Ben Franklin Jr. High. For its final class project, the group chose to create a non-profit organization for the purpose of raising funds for the Portage Co. Sheriff’s K-9 program.

The students set an initial fundraising goal of $1,500; but if they raised $5,000, they’d get to shave Greco’s head. For $10,000 in donations, the students would also be able to shave his beard and mustache in front of the entire school.

As of May 10, the students have raised more then $6,000.

Utilizing business skills not normally taught to 15-year-olds, the class reached out to local media, learned to track financial data and compiled information on the K-9 program itself, all culminating in a final fundraising event at Lower Whiting Park on April 30. More than 300 people attended that event.

At Tuesday’s class, two additional donations were hand-delivered to the school via U.S. mail: one from Green Bay, the other from Milwaukee.

Donations can still be made to the students’ fundraiser through May 20. Send donations to: Ben Franklin Jr. High School, 2000 Polk St., Stevens Point, Wis. 54481. Donors should put “World of Business” or “WOB” in the check’s memo line.