This wasn’t your grandmother’s PTA fundraiser. The organizers of Edison High School’s annual telethon struck gold with Davina and the Vagabonds and The Good, The Bad and The Funky. With the musical groups’ help, the Edison Activities Council raised $25,969 on Thursday, Nov. 2. As supporters danced in the aisles of the high school’s auditorium, others watched from home and texted their donations.
Northeast businesses and organizations continued a tradition of supporting Edison. Event sponsors included Chase Bliss Audio, Larson Dental, Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association, Xcel Energy, Northeast Lions Club, Village Orthodontics, Eastside Food Co-op, CenterPoint Energy, Waite Park Community Council, Dougherty Family College, Turbo Tim’s and Northeast Bank.
Clockwise from top left, Thomas Edison students got out of their seats as The Good, The Bad, and the Funky performed a cover of “Uptown Funk” for the school’s fundraising event. (Mike Madison)
Drag Queen “Barb” was the emcee. (Mike Madison)
“I didn’t get nervous at all walking into the school like I thought I would. Like I thought I was going to get detention immediately,” joked Davina Lozier, lead singer of Davina & the Vagabonds. (Mike Madison)
Jay Bee from Jay Bee and the Routine joined The Good, The Bad and The Funky to sing some Motown classics. (Mike Madison)
Assistant Principal Melissa Becker and Principal Eryn Warne pumped up the audience (and those at home) to make a donation. (Mike Madison)
Terry Peffer busts out a smoking tenor sax solo during The Good, the Bad and the Funky’s set at Edison High School on Thursday, Nov. 2. The band appeared as part of the school’s “Tommies Tonight!” telethon, which raised nearly $26,000 for student activities. See p. 8 for more photos.(Mike Madison)