Austintown shoots for support for fellow student

Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Austintown Schools faculty competed against the Austintown Intermediate School fifth-grade boys' basketball team on March 10 as a fundraiser for a fellow student.

Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The Falcon Cadets put on a performance before the staff versus students basketball game at Austintown Middle School on March 10.

Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The Austintown staff versus student basketball game drew in a large crowd of community members from Austintown that came to support Emily Orlaski.

Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Austintown faculty and the Austintown Intermediate School fifth-grade basketball team all took a picture together with Emily Orlaski before the staff versus students basketball game.

Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Mia Seruga, Emily Oleski and Brooke Buffington all sat to watch the Austintown Staff versus Students basketball game on March 10.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The fifth-grade basketball team from Austintown Intermediate School competed against Austintown schools faculty members in a staff versus students basketball game to raise money for fellow AIS student, Emily Orlaski, on March 10 at the Austintown Middle School gym.
“This is for Emily Orlaski, who is affected by cancer, all 100 percent goes to her family. The fifth-grade boys and our teaching staff, and our principals, are playing,” said Lisa Fitzgerald, a counselor at Austintown schools.
This is the second time Austintown hosted a staff versus students basketball game for Orlaski. Last year when Orlaski found out she had cancer, the students and staff got together to create a fun way to raise money to help out Orlaski and her family. Last year $12,000 was raised for Orlaski to help with her treatment.
After Orlaski had a long battle with cancer last school year, it returned this school year. The Austintown school system wanted to help their fellow friend and student and is hoping to attract a large crowd like last year.
“Last year I shaved my head to help raise money,” said Fitzgerald.
Everyone who helped out during the game were volunteers. There were people running the concession stand, selling tickets for the game and selling tickets for a Chinese auction. Jones and Associates Embroidery created the Team Emily shirts for the students and faculty to purchase to help support Orlaski.
Aside from the basketball game, there were performances by the Falcon Cadets, the Austintown band and a half court contest.
The Austintown community came together help a fellow community member, friend and student while also putting on an entertaining event for Orlaski and several others to enjoy.