Sundling Jr. High “When Pigs Fly Fundraiser” Nets $4,000

The “When Pigs Fly” fundraiser is held yearly at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School. It was created in honor of Carolyn Baider, a teacher at Sundling who passed away, but when she was there, would often say she would give up on kids, “when pigs fly.”

Students dedicate a day of service each year, in honor of Baider and three other Sundling teachers; Nancy Ellison, Frank Feeley, and Dusty Bertel, who have also passed away, said Jen Buelow, a teacher at Sundling.

A canned food drive was held leading up to this year’s event on May 31, Buelow said, and funds were raised for the Palatine Township Food Pantry and Palatine-based non-profit, PATH-Palatine Assisting Through Hope. 

In all, more than 2,000 food items were collected, and $4,000 raised for the organizations combined.

Beulow said students rotated through several stations within the school, where they created fleece tie-blankets for children at Alexian Brothers’ Women and Children’s Hospital, cards and activity booklets.

Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz attended the event and presented the check to PATH and the food pantry.