April 2010
The Scarsdale High School fund-raising carnival celebrates its 10th year this weekend and is still on for tonight, despite forecasts of rain.
It may be the only way to shake up your guts until Playland opens, and it's certainly the best way to donate to charity if you're an adrenaline fiend. Or if you're Neil Ginsberg, social studies teacher and student government advisor.
Mr. Ginsberg, as he's better known in the halls of Scarsdale High School, has ten years of overseeing the carnival behind him. While it's the much-anticipated oepning day of the carnival his students look forward to, he most enjoys the roller-coaster of work in the weeks beforehand.
"I love how the kids get so invovled in their club stuff and their class stuff, they really work hard to make their booths work and all, and the most improtant one is about 3, 4, or 5 weeks after its over – I love when we are able to write checks and send it out to charities."
Yes, you heard right. Not only does the carnival bring loads of fun, stomach-churning rides and unnerving games and contests to Scarsdale's buttoned-up backyard; all the money collected from the $20 entrance fees goes right to charity.
Newton Shows, which provides the rides and professional concessions stands, offers a fundraising partnership for schools and community organizations. Each year the ticket/bracelet fees for the SHS carnival, raise between $17,000 and $20,000 which goes towards charities of the students' choosing.
"We help a lot of different charities - right now we're thinking about the AFYA Foundation, we've done Mercy Corps, Girls Learn International, Doctors Without Borders, My Sister's Place, we talk about different charities," said Ginsberg.
Attendees can ride and enjoy the midway rides, which are organized by officers in the school government, for the full-day $30 bracelets, and that accounts for the bulk of the money raised.
But part of what makes this carnival such a treat is seeing what the school clubs and grade classes have organized for their own fund-raising booths. Another group of students are selected by Ginsberg to assist with the organizing of the booths, an opportunity Ginsberg says that further helps kids learn managerial skills.
"They get involved in talking to all the club officers ad organizations and stuff like that," he said. "We're going to have somewhere in the name of about 25 to 35 booths this year, some will just be doing it one time, and some will be doing it both days."
In addition to the student clubs' booths, each class traditionally oversees one concession or game as the fundraiser for their grade level.
Freshman Class – Dunk Booth
Sophomore Class – Strong Man
Junior Class – Hot Dogs, Hamburgers
Senior Class – Drinks
"The hardest one is the junior one - but you also make the most money," said Ginsberg.
This year student clubs include:
* Human Rights Coalition
* Free the Children
* Midnight Run
* Science Olympiad
* The U.N. Club
* Pine Ridge Reservation
* Missing in Action (students who have lost relatives)
* The Alternative School
* French Club
Club Activities:
* Wheel of Fortune
* Midnight Run
* Football Toss
* Face Painting
* Smoothies
* Bake Sale
But now, with everything in place, there's just one problem – a nasty little forecast.
Showers are predicted for this afternoon into this evening, and tomorrow currently has a 50% chance of rain.
By 4 p.m. Ginsberg expects to make a decision as to weather the show will go on, for tonight at least.
Tonight's hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (if it closes early, we'll report it on Patch) Saturday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
If Friday is fully rained out, the carnival will resume Sunday at 1 p.m to 6 p.m. But keep a lookout – the plans only apply if the carnival is closed all day Friday.
"There was one year we waited, and it was at 7:30 p.m. when the weather stopped being bad, the sun started to come out, just as it was setting. By 8:30 it was totally packed," said Ginsberg.
"We never know - we make the decision, and we do the best we can."
