Girl Scout Silver Award Candidate Holds Car Wash Fundraiser

As Theresa Heaney works toward her goal of attaining a Girl Scout Silver Award, her friends and their parents volunteered to help the Cadette Girl Scout raise funds for her award project, which consists of bringing a two-day music program to James Wilson Young Middle School and Bayport-Blue Point High School.

Music students will gain knowledge and experience as a result of the project Heaney must complete to achieve the coveted award, which according to GirlScouts.org, represents a girl's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and her community as she grows and works to improve her life and the lives of others.

Heaney's helpers from Troop 910 and beyond assisted her by gathering at Chase Bank on Sunday for a car wash fundraiser. Although the scouts weren't permitted to charge for their car washing services, they were accepting donations, and ended up hosing down approximately 30 dirty cars and raising $300. 

Blue Point resident Jeff Ogle stopped by to get his car washed.  He said, "I saw people outside with signs, and I had just noticed at the library that my car needed to be washed—and better them than me."

Prior to the event, Heaney had raised $1,000 toward the $4,000 needed to bring Emmy-winning composer Mark Wood's "Electrify Your Strings" (EYS) series of music education programs to her school district.

The industrious orchestral student has arranged for Wood to teach the intensive two-day music workshop, which culminates in a free rock concert for the community on April 14 at Bayport-Blue Point High School.

In addition, Heaney has also been visiting local businesses, soliciting corporate sponsorships, and made a presentation at a recent Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce meeting. She emphasized the skills she has developed through new relationships, "I've gained a lot of confidence talking to all these businesses," she said.

Like EYS founder Wood, Heaney is an electric violinist, and she also plays violin in the school's orchestra- but she doesn't plan to stop there. Heaney wants to learn how to play the cello and is thinking about becoming a music teacher someday. "I definitely want to do something in the music field," she said.

Donations will be collected at the upcoming workshop concert and will be donated to Society Encouraging the Arts in Bayport-Blue Point Schools (SEA-BBS).  Any extra funds will be used for purchasing electric instruments in the music department.

Jim Girardi, owner of VIP Billiards in Bayport, has provided a special card for the month of October.  Visit the business anytime during that month and show the card to have 50 percent of your pool time donated to Heaney's cause. 

To find out more information, visit VIPBilliardsinc.com. There will also be a Family Billiards Day on October 3 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. where all proceeds will be donated toward Heaney's award project.

Heaney's mother and troop leader, Laura, is proud of what her daughter has learned through this project process thus far, "They're learning leadership skills," she said. The outcome of the car wash was great too, as Laura Heaney noted some visitors at the car wash "just stopped and said, 'I don't want my car washed, but here's a donation.'  Everyone has been very generous with their time and money," she said.

If you would like (Theresa) Heaney to make a presentation to your business about corporate sponsorship, call her at (631) 363-5059.  Donations may be sent to:

Theresa Heaney

666 Gillette Avenue

Bayport, NY 11705