BonnerSprings.com

For eighth-grader Theresa Wild, last Saturday's event benefitting two elementary students provided her with the perfect opportunity to get some revenge on her science teacher at Clark Middle School, Tammy Stauber.

"She's one of my teachers, and she always gets mad at me for talking and not doing my work," Wild said. "So I threw a pie at her."

In addition to Wild, hundreds of people packed Bonner Springs High School's gymnasium Saturday, Jan. 27, to raise funds for the families of two local elementary students stricken with Group A strep, which later developed into Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Eighth-grader Theresa Wild smiles while smashing a whipped-cream pie into the face of her science teacher at Clark Middle School, Tammy Stauber.

The funds were to help cover the many costs incurred by the families of 11-year-old Tony Holmes and 8-year-old Jason Hutzel. Tony remains hospitalized in serious condition at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., while he receives treatment. Jason remains hospitalized, but has fared better than Tony thus far and is in stable condition.

During the first two hours of the event, there were several games for the children, including a cake walk, football toss, golf putting area, Hula-Hoop contest and the ever-popular pie-throwing event. There was plenty of donated food to eat, but many of the children chose to wait for cotton candy instead. Roses were sold, pictures taken and faces painted. If that weren't enough, the Johnny Dollar Band performed tunes when the dance portion of the evening got underway at 7 p.m.

Della Hernandez, a friend of the Holmes' family who helped organize the event and has spent time with both the boys' families, said she made a deposit Tuesday for over $6,700 from the event. She said that's not all the money that was raised. Hernandez estimates the fund-raiser brought in more than $8,000.

5-year-old Madison Epp enjoys herself while trying to find out how long she can keep her Hula Hoop going without letting it fall.

Hernandez said many people told her how wonderful they thought the event turned out to be.

"All night long I got compliment after compliment after compliment," Hernandez said. "It was very, very worth every worry, every mile on my car, everything."

Although it seemed most people had a good time, Hernandez said she only made it into the gym twice that night because she was so busy making sure everything was going well.

"I thought it was a huge success," Hernandez said. "It couldn't have gone any better. It made it all worthwhile."

Hernandez said she was able to present Jason with a new scooter on Tuesday that The Sharper Image donated and also gave his parents a $500 check.

Tony's mother, Rhonda, presented the top three prizes to the raffle winners Saturday night and briefly, while trying to hold back her emotions, thanked everyone for all they have done.

Teri Rattenne, who has a niece that attends Bonner Springs Elementary school, said she was surprised at the number of people who showed up for the benefit.

"I'm an alumni and my mom asked if I'd help out, so I did," Rattenne said. "I didn't know it was going to be this big. I've been painting faces for two-and-a-half hours straight."

Ron Sager, who said his son is friends with Jason, said the event was important for the two families involved, but also represented a fun way for the younger students to support their classmates.

From right, 12-year-old Brian Carson and 9-year-old Mario Loeza show off the face paintings they got during the benefit. Carson and many other children had T-Bone painted on their faces in honor of their classmate, Tony Holmes. Tony's nickname is T-Bone.

"I like seeing the little kids play and that's what this is all about," Sager said. "It's about the children."

Larry Lee, the parent of a fifth-grade student who sits next to Tony in class, said he liked the way the community came together to support the two boys. Lee said he was especially impressed with the number of junior and senior high school students who turned out to support children they might not have ever met.

Lesa Rittinghouse, who helped to organize a similar benefit for a friend at the high school 25 years ago, said she was happy with what she saw at last week's event.

"The kids have turned out because of Tony and Jason being in the elementary school," Rittinghouse said. "I think it's wonderful."

Besides family, friends an those in the community, many businesses and organizations donated to the benefit, including Wal-Mart, Brewer's Price Chopper, Sonic, Commercial State Bank, Thriftway, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Amoco, The Hostess Bread Store, McDonald's, Subway, Mr. Goodcents, Harry's Corner Deli, Simple Simon's, the USD No. 204 School Board, the staff and administrators of Bonner Springs High School, Clark Middle School and Bonner Springs Elementary, and business she may have forgotten.

Hernandez said she also wanted to thank Tracie Lamb, The Charlie Brown Crew, Linda Hovey, Tami Rees, Ron and Tammy Wild, Billy and Kim Gardner, Carolyn Sturgeon, the kitchen crew, Dale and Lesa Rittinghouse, The Johnny Dollar Band and anyone she may have forgotten.