UNICEF Club recently finished its annual Snowball Dance fundraiser event Jan. 31. The club spent the past couple months meticulously planning to make the event a success. 

“Preparations were intense but ultimately very rewarding,” UNICEF President Jordan Oiknine (12) said. “Because we finalized the framework, including decorations, the DJ, the photo booth and general logistics, back in December, our team was able to pivot our full focus toward promotion this month. We saw a great turnout at our pre-dance meetings, and the seamless collaboration between members really highlighted the strength and unity of our club’s community.” 

After finishing preparations, Snowball tickets were sold at lunch Jan. 27-30. On the night of the event, the school’s multipurpose room became the venue for the dance. 

“The event was an amazing success,” Oiknine said. “We sold a record-breaking 400 tickets, far exceeding our initial goal of 300. This high attendance allowed us to raise a total of $4,000 for UNICEF, which will go directly toward clean water and emergency relief initiatives. Beyond the fundraising, the atmosphere was incredibly upbeat and served as a perfect way to build school spirit during the colder, quieter months of the year.”

The Snowball’s impact resonated deeply with members of UNICEF who were able to see the event’s success firsthand. 

“I attended the dance,” UNICEF officer Talia Poremba (10) said. “It reminded me why these events matter so much. The Snowball shows that making a difference can be fun, social and meaningful all at once. It’s a way for UNICEF to build a culture of compassion and engage the wider community while also raising funds.”

With the Snowball over, UNICEF is now shifting its focus onto a new project for February. While details about the event will be released soon, UNICEF plans on focusing on local efforts within the community with direct action. 

“We’ll be launching the event at our next general meeting with a comprehensive presentation,” Oiknine said. “Our rollout strategy includes social media teaser posts and sign-up links on Instagram to build anticipation, member incentives through discussing how participation contributes to their required service hours and personal outreach by having board members speak directly to their respective committees to answer questions and encourage sign-ups.”

As preparations for the new initiative begin, the enthusiasm from UNICEF members reflect the impact the club hopes to leave as they continue to help communities worldwide.  

“Being a part of UNICEF has been so fulfilling,” Poremba said. “I love being able to channel my passion for supporting children all over the world through the club. I’m excited to see what we’ll work on next, and the success from Snowball makes me super optimistic about future projects.”