Eastside High School Raises $106,829!

Eastside High School and arch rival Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina compete in a fundraising event each fall called Wade Hampton Week. Each school selects a cause by giving community members an opportunity to present their charity. The Cystinosis Research Network has been the beneficiary of Eastside’s fundraiser four times receiving over $300,000 in donations from the fundraiser! Frankie McGinnis, CRN Board Member and Mom to Laura (with cystinosis) and Chris (without), has successfully lobbied for CRN to be Eastside’s charity of choice.

Where is Your Future?

By Frankie McGinnis

I think that as a society we are inundated with negative images of teenagers, the future, and the world. I have seen the future, and as long as my family is aligned with the Eastside High School student body, I have no fear.

I tell people all the time how amazing these kids are and the amazing love they have for all people with cystinosis. I cannot put into words how deeply I know this. Each year they have chosen CRN, they have risen higher than they believed they could. These events are a competition between schools and their chosen charity. These kids are so much above a silly rivalry between schools; they realize that they are changing the futures for all with cystinosis. This was the first year that Laura really felt the love I have known all along. As the entire student body chanted her name, saying “We love Laura” she broke down in tears. I asked her if she was afraid, and she replied, “No, I just felt overwhelmed”.

We love Eastside High School and the students, faculty, and families that make up this community. They love us back. I know I am truly blessed to live in a community that has embraced my family with so much love and support. As the total was announced that Friday night, the kids could care less that they had “lost”. The $106,829 they raised will be matched by the Towsley grant and the NIH fellow will be secured. As the eagle that is their school mascot, they had risen on wings like Eagles...and all of us are soaring with them.

Frankie McGinnis' Journal

Frankie McGinnis has worked tirelessly in conjunction with Eastside High students to raise money for CRN during Wade Hampton Week. This year, Frankie provided insightful updates to the CRN e-group during the week.

10/18/07

Hi all,

Today we kicked off Wade Hampton Week 2007! The students were amazing as always. The students and administrators really encouraged the whole school to get behind us. They want that 100k for the NIH fellowship! There is an article at goupstate.com type in McGinnis and it will come up. We are getting some good publicity in this area. They are putting another story in next Tuesday and then the following week about how things turned out. Please continue to send good vibes, prayers, whatever you have as we get ready for this crazy week!

Thanks, Frankie

10/22/07

Hi all,

WHW is off to a roaring start. We have been to an assembly, yard sale, car washes, oyster roast, silent auction, McAlister’s, jewelry show, and a movie on a tennis court. So far, my best guestimate is that the kids are well over 30k. They are working non-stop. Kinsey, the President, was up from Thursday at 6am until Friday at midnight. Thank God they are young. As usual, it has been amazing. I was sitting in McAlister’s eating, and I hear a freshman talking on his cell phone explaining exactly what cystinosis is and trying to get more people to come. That is amazing. Keep the ju ju coming.

Much Love, Frankie

10/23/07

Sad to say but we had the first injury ever and it was a whopper. Yesterday, it was "Polar Bear" slip and slide. We are southerners so 65F counted as Polar Bear weather. Anyway, a 16 year old boy went one direction feet first and another came at him face first. The face lost. He broke his nose and cheek bone. Surgery was today. Other than that things are going real well. We are all walking zombies but having fun. It is 6:30pm, and we have 3 more events soooo…..off I go again!

Much love, Frankie

10/24/07

Hi all, We continue to have tons of participation from the community and things are going well. I sold suckers at school today and made $100 in 2 hours!

Love, Frankie

10/28/07

Hi all, The total was 106,829!!! I am dead.

Much love, Frankie

Frankie McGinnis receives hugs from Eastside High School Students after they raised $106,829 for CRN. The money is earmarked for the Cystinosis Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.