From left, Principal Patrick Heyden; student Bridget Reilly; Suzanne D'Amico, Kids Escaping Drugs development director; science teacher and Joint the Winners coordinator Bob O'Connor, and students Shareen Abdallah, Mayan Karpie-Jones, and Jessica Fink.

On May 30, Kenmore East High School presented a donation of $3,000 to Kids Escaping Drugs from the annual Join the Winners initiative, a homegrown Kenmore East effort to help children and teenagers struggling with addiction.

Representing Kenmore East High School were Principal Patrick Heyden; science department chair and Join the Winners coordinator Bob O’Connor; and students Bridget Reilly, Shareen Abdallah, Mayan Karpie-Jones, and Jessica Fink. Suzanne D’Amico, director of development for Kids Escaping Drugs, accepted the donation on behalf of the organization.

Through Join the Winners and its penultimate event, Kids Helping Kids, Kenmore East has raised thousands of dollars every year to support Kids Escaping Drugs and its mission of addressing drug and alcohol addiction in young people through proactive early education and intervention and through services for young people struggling with addiction.

Join the Winners culminates in a huge school-wide event each year that brings together hundreds of students in grades 8-12 with friendly class competitions and fun activities such as relay races, an air band competition, and a dance.