As the Holiday season approaches, snowflakes begin to fall, students anticipate holiday break, and presents start being wrapped by parents ready to excite their children and family. Sadly, some children are not so fortunate to receive presents for the holidays. In hopes to bring wide smiles to the faces of children this year, Norwin High School junior Miya Valecko is organizing and hosting the 2023 Powderpuff Charity event to support the Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes Foundation.
The 2023 Norwin Powderpuff Charity event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Norwin High School Stadium and will run from 5:00-9:00 pm. Two games will be played during this event–the first featuring the Freshmen vs. Sophomores and the second featuring the Junior vs. Seniors. The Freshmen vs. Sophomore game will begin at 5:30 followed by the Junior vs. Senior game that starts at 7:30. The Norwin Lady Knight players, Norwin Band, and Castle Crew will all be features of the Powderpuff charity event along with a 50-50 raffle, open concession, and an acknowledgment of sponsors. Norwin High School senior Anthony Olshanski will be announcing the game, and sophomore Joe ‘Media’ Cramer will be the event photographer.
Valecko designed admission to bring in as much donation as possible. Admission for the game will be a toy in its original packaging, a monetary donation of $5 and up, or both! All donations from sign-ups, outside donations, and the event itself will go towards the Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes foundation, which focuses on raising its efforts to provide toys for as many children in need as possible during the holiday season.
Sign-ups for Powderpuff ran throughout the month of October. Norwin Lady Knight Powderpuff players paid a $20 player fee, which is currently being used to help pay for t-shirts as well as to go towards donation. Valecko received over 125 sign-ups this year with around 20 to 30 girls per team.
“I was so beyond excited to receive so many sign-ups this year,” said Valecko. “It has been a privilege to organize an event that so many girls are eager to participate in.”
Valecko has been working with various businesses to get sponsors and helpers for the event. Shaw Plumbing, Maid to Service, and JB’s Bright Beginnings are the businesses that are mainly sponsoring the event. Valecko has also received multiple outside donations from people who will not be able to attend the event. Jaden’s Catering will be providing food for the concession stand, and many people of the Norwin Community have volunteered their time to help the event run smoothly.
Valecko also dedicates much of her work and reason for organizing the event to last year’s Powderpuff event organizer, Hannah Shaw.
“I knew what I was getting myself into once I started brainstorming ideas,” said Valecko. “I knew it was going to be difficult, and it absolutely has been, but I kept reminding myself how much fun I had playing Powderpuff last year and that it was going to be for such a good cause. From there, I knew the first person to contact would be Hannah, and she has been extremely helpful throughout this whole process.”
Last year, the 2022 Powderpuff event raised over $5,700 as well as boxes full of toys for the Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes Foundation. Valecko is confident that the 2023 event will raise even more money and toys for donation! talk about who won last year
Powderpuff Practices have currently been running throughout the first few weeks of November. Valecko stresses the hard work put in by all players, coaches, and player coaches exerted in practices so far. What she has been most excited to see, though, is the smiles and laughter coming from the players. The unification of the Powderpuff activities and events continue to provide fun for Norwin Lady Knights of all grades and interests.
Norwin High School sophomore Madelynn Cuturilo has been ready to play Powderpuff since she was young. She is excited to participate this year under her coach and dad, Mr. Cuturilo.
“When I was little I’d always go with my dad to watch him coach the girls powderpuff team,” said Cuturilo. “I looked up to the girls wanting to be just like them. I’m now 16 years old getting to do the same thing alongside my best friends and with my dad coaching again.”
The Norwin Powderpuff charity event is expected to bring in lots of supporters from the Norwin community. Valecko asserts the accomplishing feeling she has already had by organizing an event that so many people have been interested in. Valecko knew that Powderpuff would be the perfect way to spend a part of her junior year because she values making as many memories as possible.
“I wanted to do powderpuff to make high-school memories and above all have fun, cause if ur not having fun, what are you doing?”
