PENNSDALE - On April 14, the friends and family of Joe Young held the annual "Quarter Mile of Quarters" fundraiser at the Lycoming Mall to raise money for the Joe Young Memorial Scholarship.
This year's event raised $619, according to event spokesman Thad Meckley.
"It was probably the best Quarter Mile of Quarters event," Meckley said. "The grand total was the highest to date. His family will select three recipients from the graduating class of Hughesville High School, each receiving a scholarship of $600 this year."
Article Photos
KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
On April 14, the friends and family of Joe Young held the annual “Quarter Mile of Quarters” fundraiser. Above from left, Amanda Rose and Alyssa Young of Lycoming College’s Alpha Rho Omega sorority, and Lori Young Marzilli and Holly Young, both sisters of Joe Young lay quarters in a pattern.
Meckley said that nine Alpha Rho Omega sorority sisters from Lycoming College also volunteered their time during the event. This was one of several fundraisers for the scholarship, which was established by Joe Young's family after Young, 17, was killed April 19, 2003, in a car accident.
The award is given at graduation to a Hughesville High School senior and is not based on academic honors, but is based on moral character, generosity of spirit and the struggle to achieve.
Special attention is given to those who are interested in sports medicine, occupational therapy, the sciences, meteorology and photography, as these were subjects that Young was most interested in pursuing.
Hughesville High School staff also held a dress-down day to benefit the fund, and presented the proceeds to Young's parents, Maria and Bill Young.
"A big, from the heart thank you to the staff of Hughesville High School. They did a dress-down day fundraising event, and donated $168 to the memorial scholarship fund," Maria Young said. "I am humbled by the generous support of the community, and touched deeply by their remembrance of Joe."
According to Young's sister, Lori Young Marzilli, the scholarship is a small helping hand given each year by her family.
"My parents, Maria and Bill Young, read every essay submitted, and have personally selected each recipient," Marzilli wrote on her Facebook page. "They know that each and every student out there has a story, a reason for wanting to succeed. Some of them fought to get where they were in school, some of them fell on hard times; but each of them wanted, needed and were determined to make their way to a better education. Each of them deserved a chance at a better future. We've been at it for nearly a decade, as hard as that is to believe, and to date, we've helped send 18 students on to college."
The scholarship committee also is making plans for the annual baseball game in July to mark the 10th anniversary of the scholarship.
"To you, it's change in the washer, at the bottom of your purse or cluttering the floor of your car," Marzilli wrote. "To us, it's an investment into the education of the youth in our community. To a Hughesville senior and their family, it's a little financial relief during hard economic times. It's not just 'change,' it's change we can make happen."
