Hajar Azegza also contributed to this article
Following an energetic concession stand that nearly sold out at a football game the day prior, the Class of 2023 would host yet another fruitful fundraiser to kickstart the new school year. This particular event featured soap, water, and sponges.
After a great success last year, the Class of ‘23 car wash made a comeback, taking place on September 17th.
President Kyle Lee mentioned that over $400 was raised in October of 2021, when the class had last cleaned cars: “For a carwash? It’s pretty good. If we keep doing car washes, we’ll do good.”
And so, that is precisely what members of the council and senior volunteers found themselves doing on a Saturday morning as they worked to fund upcoming senior events.
The class advisor, Michael Lightbody, who brought up the plan last June, explained, “We thought with the momentum of doing the concession stand, the next morning would be the perfect time.”
“These are the kind of fun events. Sometimes it’s about raising a little money but at the same time, you know, getting people together,” he described.
Ryan Li, among the participants, explained the apparent organization of the event in terms of jobs: “Essentially, we decided that roles don’t exist, so people just did whatever they could. I switched between rinsing the cars to cleaning the cars, then rinsing, and all over the place.”
(Left) Senior volunteers Sara Diamond, Ryan Li and Zhi Zhu drying off a car. Photo by Jessica Li
(Top Right) Senior Ryan Li drying down a police car. Photo by Jessica Li
(Middle Right) Senior volunteer Ryan Li throwing water on a police car. Photo by Hajar Azegza
(Bottom Right) Senior Ryan Li hosing a car down while teacher volunteer James Valente throws water onto the car. Photo by Hajar Azegza
He concluded that the event proved successful having attained about $300. “It’s usually one of the more profitable events that we have,” Li commented.
He continued, “My favorite aspect is probably the camaraderie, or the bonding, that we have, especially with this class, it’s more small groups,” so “you get to really see the same people who are going to put in the work” and “put in the effort to ensure that our prom is going to be better than we did last year.”
With a number of cars and even fire trucks contributing to the car wash, council members, volunteers, and teachers alike agreed upon the success of the event, with regard to both accumulated money and team bonding.
Michelle Dang, another volunteer at the event, had returned to the annual car wash this year. She noted, “I definitely think this was a success after the police men and the firemen came through with their trucks and their money and [it really helped] getting the citizens’ attention. Getting tips from them for doing a good job [was nice]. I think this was pretty much a success, especially for it being so early, and [also] starting right before rush hour.”
Senior volunteer Michelle Dang scrubs the side of a car. Photo by Jessica Li 
Senior volunteer Michelle Dang scrubs the windshield of a car. Photo by Jessica Li 
Senior Michelle Dang drying the mirror of a fire truck. Photo by Jessica LiSenior volunteer Michelle Dang wipes the side of a police car. Photo by Jessica Li 
Senior volunteer Michelle Dang wipes the side of a police car. Photo by Jessica Li 
Senior volunteer Michelle Dang cleans a car. Photo by Jessica Li 
Senior Michelle Dang sponges a car roof. Photo by Jessica Li
“With the help of the mayor in bringing down some of the police and the firemen, I think we were able to achieve our goal,” emphasized Lightbody.
This goal--primarily to cheapen the cost and ensure the collective enjoyment of prom--was fulfilled in the eyes of Isabella Ivy, secretary of the Class of ‘23. “It's going to help and pay for our prom because we already chose our location. Now, we're trying to get money to pay for food, drinks, decorations, and the downpayment and all that and we also probably will if we need to use it for other activities that we're making for seniors this year.”
Lee explained that $10k more would have to be raised for the “venue we just chose,” The Danversport Yacht Club.
Lightbody remarked that the place “checks the boxes on the list: it’s a nice, open venue; there’s access, so folks can hang outside on the deck; and, there’s a beautiful gazebo and grass to take pictures with a water background.”
He added that the proximity is close enough for seniors to enjoy themselves on the red carpet and not have to rush to get to the prom venue on time. Describing the process of selecting a venue in greater detail, he stated, “We looked at a dozen or so places and some of them just weren’t big enough and others were just too difficult to get to and there was a couple that I looked at in town, and they were booked.”
Treasurer Allison Yu communicated that while they have their venue, features like the DJ and food are still being decided on. Prom tickets are looking “to be around $80 or $90, so it’s not that bad,” she mentioned.
Educator James Valente was also a volunteer for the car wash. On top of feeling obliged to Lightbody who had helped him when he was the class of 1998’s advisor, Valente helped out due to his familiarity with students from the Class of ‘23. “I’ve had them in classes and they’re just probably one of the best bunch of kids I’ve ever met. So I really want to be helpful when I can when they do anything.”
In regard to the event, he reflected, “Any time you can get a group of kids to come out on a Saturday morning after they’ve had a week of school, they’ve had games, they’ve had club meetings, a football game last night where we worked a concession stand and many of them were there for that as well--I think any time you get kids to come out, and then you can earn whatever money. I mean, $5 is better than no dollars. But, whether you make it $5, $500, whatever it is, it helps.”
(Left) Class of 2023 Advisor Michael Lightbody and senior volunteers surrounding Mayor Christenson after washing his car. Photo by Jessica Li
(Top Right) Class of 2023 officers among volunteers and policemen whose cars they washed. Photo by Hajar Azegza
(Bottom Right) Seniors Sara Diamond and Isabella Ivy working together to scrub a car. Photo by Hajar Azegza
“We’ve gone through some tough trying times here in Malden, as well as all the high schools have with COVID, to see the Class of 2020 not have a prom, to see the Class of 2021 say, ‘Hey, we’re having one’ and they did it in the gym and it was fantastic. And then last year, for a class to finally get back on their feet and have a prom, it was great because a lot of underclassmen were invited as guests--if not, dates--and they got to see what it’s really like to be part of something big which they haven’t yet got to see. So, now they know what that is. And they were anticipating it. And I think that, to be honest with you,” what the Class of ‘23 knows “is that they can make it bigger and better and they will. So, I am looking forward to it,” Valente continued.
He concluded, “We really appreciate anyone who supports the Class of 2023. It’s been tough; classes trying to raise money coming out of COVID are finding it difficult. But we have a really good network here of kids; we have a really good network of staff, faculty; we’ve got excellent parent and guardian groups. They come out to support us, and that’s just what we want.”
Lightbody added, “I really appreciate leading the class of 2023 as the advisor with that loss of about a year and a half due to COVID. The students really have worked hard to make our fundraisers and activities a success. So, all the credit has to go to them.”
Finally, volunteer Sara Diamond highlighted a message to the senior class: “Prom doesn't just magically happen. There are people who put work into it. And, we all rely on those people to do a good job. So if you want a good prom, one way that you can ensure that is to do it yourself to help yourself.”
This car wash will not be the last fundraising event Class Of 2023 has planned for the future. With football and volleyball season passing, the Class of ‘23 still plans to run concession stands during these games and are looking forward to the basketball season especially since these concession stands seem to be a big hit.
The closest event coming up hosted by the Class of ‘23 will be the Krispy Kreme donut sale in October. This donut sale is just the start of endless fundraising events leading up to prom including a winter ball, Candy Grams, a popcorn fundraiser, dodgeball events, a powderpuff game, and even a few ice cream socials throughout the next few months.
