[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 72 (Thursday, April 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL'S CHARITY PROM

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                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the students, 
faculty, and Principal, Doug Fulton, of Freedom High School located in 
Loudoun County, Virginia, for their leadership and efforts to raise 
money and awareness for pediatric cancer. For the second year in a row, 
Freedom High School will be forgoing a lavish, expensive prom and 
instead will be hosting the event in their cafeteria and gymnasium, 
where the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to pediatric 
cancer organizations.
  Two years ago, Principal Fulton and several students saw an 
opportunity for the school to engage with their community and join the 
fight against childhood cancer when they learned about the Prom 
Challenge, an initiative set forth by St. Jude Children's Research 
Hospital. Through this initiative, St. Jude Children's Research 
Hospital provides schools with the tools needed to transform their 
normal prom events into pediatric cancer fundraisers.
  Last spring marked the first time that Freedom High School partook in 
the challenge, and this unique event truly sparked interests and 
efforts of the entire student body, faculty, and community. When the 
decision was made to transform the school's cafeteria and gym into a 
dining room and ball room in an effort to save money on a venue, many 
students were at first skeptical and disappointed. Yet once they 
learned about the challenge, they became excited and very eager to 
raise money and awareness for the event. Additionally, the Hilton 
Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, the venue that had already been 
arranged for the event prior to the conception of this charity ball, 
generously returned the school its $5,000 deposit.
  The theme of last year's prom was ``Hats on to Fight Pediatric 
Cancer,'' inspired by Ellie's Hats, a local charity in Loudoun County 
that provides hats to children who lose their hair during cancer 
treatments. To raise awareness students were asked to wear hats to the 
event, and some of the proceeds were in fact donated to this local 
organization. At the event, the food provided was all donated by Whole 
Foods and the National Conference Center, and the musical performers 
and photographers each volunteered their time. Lastly, the prom king 
and queen were not chosen by the student body, but they were instead 
selected based on who raised the most money in their name. Every final 
detail and moment of this event was thoroughly planned with the intent 
of assisting those with pediatric cancer, and ultimately, the event 
raised $48,000.
  Mr. Speaker, while the students and faculty take great pride in last 
year's tremendous prom, they now hope to make this event a permanent 
tradition at Freedom High School and hope that other schools will 
follow their lead. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Freedom 
High School's students and faculty for their extraordinary work on last 
year's charity prom and their continuous efforts to champion this 
initiative. Dedicating their time and efforts to helping children and 
their families fight an unthinkable battle with cancer attests to their 
unselfish character and determination to better their community.

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