‘Tis the season of the Muffin Man, Odd Jobs and buying pies to throw at friends, signalling that the month of festive fundraising has begun at Copper Hills and West Jordan High Schools.

Paws 4 A Cause is the name of Copper Hills High School’s charity drive in which students raise money to benefit local families. CHHS SBO President Ashlynn Simpson said the various fundraising activities held throughout December get everyone involved.

West Jordan High School teacher gets pied in the face for charity during M.A.D. Jags 2024. (Photo by AJ Brannan)

 “My favorite thing is just getting to see that us, as students, as 15-18 year olds, can raise so much money we can truly change people's lives,” she said. “With the money that we raise, being able to pay off people's debts of hospital bills when they feel like they're drowning, and it's just so cool to know that we can give them a little bit of hope and a little bit of love, and show them that their community does see them, and that we do care about them and we want to help them when they are struggling.”

When students buy a muffin from the Muffin Man cart each morning, or purchase holiday items made by a school club, they are contributing to the fundraiser. Students can also buy whipped cream pies to throw in peoples’ faces or pay to watch a teacher get duct taped to the wall. CHHS SBO Hayden Beames said Paws 4 ACause is something students look forward to because there are so many fun activities to do with friends.

“At the start, I noticed how it's really fun and outgoing, and I'm just there kind of for the experience, getting to be a part of this Christmas season, having the joy of going and doing all these fun things,” he said. “But then as we get closer to the actual holiday and the end of our Paws, I noticed that I'm really feeling more in the giving spirit and what Christmas is all about.”

Copper Hills High School student leaders reveal how much their charity drive earned in 2024. (Photo courtesy Angela Beatty)

West Jordan High School’s December charity is called M.A.D. Jags and they have similar traditional fundraising activities for their student body including Ashtray Tuesday, when they collect change from peoples’ cars, caroling for donations at stores and malls, and collecting money from audience members during performing arts’ winter concerts and school sports events.

The annual Mr. MadJags is a pageant for male students competing for the most votes (and the most money) from the audience. “It’s probably the most popular with our student body because they like watching guys make a fool of themselves,” WJHS SBO Camryn Ridley said.

West Jordan community members are invited to support both of the high school charity drives in various ways. Both schools will have restaurant Spirit Nights when a percentage of the night’s proceeds is donated to the school. Residents are invited to purchase a ticket for the Grizzlies Got Talent show at CHHS or make an online donation directly at copperhillshigh.org. Community members are also invited to community night at WJHS, to participate in fundraising activities such as buying pies to throw at student government officers.

Details about Paws 4 A Cause events will be posted regularly on Instagram @chpride.  Events for M.A.D. Jags events will be posted @WJ_pride.

West Jordan High School student leaders raise funds for Paws 4 A Cause charity fundraiser in 2024. (Photo courtesy Angela Beatty)

Students from both schools will be going out into West Jordan neighborhoods every evening Monday through Saturday during the month of December for Odd Jobs, which is an opportunity for residents to make a direct donation to their charity. Groups of students will be knocking on doors and offering to do chores or simple service in exchange for money for their charity. In the past, students have wrapped gifts, taken out trash, sung Christmas carols, put up holiday decorations, washed dishes, swept floors, raked leaves and shoveled snow in exchange for a donation.

WJHS SBO President Carter Walker said spending his nights doing Odd Jobs is his favorite part of M.A.D. Jags. “The most fun I ever have is at Odd Jobs, just being with my friends and doing service in exchange for donations,” he said. “I think it's really fun, and it's a really impactful way to raise money for the charity.”

Fundraising activities at both schools happen daily and despite how busy they become, students love participating.

West Jordan High School students go around the neighborhood doing odd jobs for residents in exchange for donations for M.A.D. Jags 2024. (Photo courtesy James Myers) 

“It's definitely worth it,” WJHS SBO Charlie Dulgarian said. “It totally brings the school together and the community together, which is one of the biggest, most important things about charity season.” 

Just before students leave for Christmas break, both schools hold assemblies to reveal how much money they have raised. Dulgarian said everyone is always very excited when they see the thousands of dollars they helped raise.

“It's just super cool, even though it's not a ton of money compared to other schools, but it's like, this is our family, and we all came together to raise this money,” Dulgarian said.

The beneficiary for WJHS’s fundraising efforts is Indy’s Ohana which was started by a couple who are West Jordan High School alumni. They help fund family trips and lasting memories for children with cancer.

CHHS’s money stays within the local community. Student leaders deliver checks to pay off residents’ debts. They also shop for and deliver Christmas gifts to families who need the help. Those students who get to deliver the money and gifts are touched by being able to help families, who are often moved to tears with gratitude.

CHHS SBO Franciso Diaz said it feels good to be a part of Paws 4 A Cause and to help make someone else happy.

“I think it's just about spreading the joy,” he said. “And the amount of smiles, the amount of happy tears-- it's all worthwhile.”