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Contributed photo/ Margaret Knapp, a 70-year member of the SHS Class of 1956 reunion committee, Class President Mark Frost and Class Treasurer Vera Huls donate the class’s reunion funds to The Ladder Community Center.
SHELBY — The Shelby Class of 1956 recently made the decision to discontinue its annual class picnic after a long 70-year run.
The classmates chose to donate the funds remaining in their class treasury to The Ladder Community Center in Shelby, since its youth program benefits local under-privileged children.
“The surplus funds from the Class of 1956 were generated over the first 50 years after graduation by thrifty planning of the five-year dinner events that the class members and their spouses enjoyed,” states Ladder Communications Coach Holly Baxter.
The class lost its first classmate 35 years after graduation. At the time, class representatives decided to use the surplus funds to build a memorial program honoring their deceased classmates. Each time a classmate died, a $25 gift was given to the charity of their family’s choice. In addition to the surplus funds generated from the dinner meetings, some classmates made separate cash donations to the class’s memorial program.
Class President Mark Frost, Class Treasurer Vera Huls and Margaret Knapp, a 70-year member of the class reunion committee, presented the $450 gift to Ladder Director Brian Beckman and Youth and Men’s Coach Troy Love on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
“A lot of classes would use that leftover money to have a blowout party for themselves,” said Love. “It is inspiring to see Shelby classmates from 1956 love each other; honor their deceased classmates; and desire to invest in future generations. They are leaving a legacy that will impact future classes of Shelby High School.”
Contributed photo/Brian Beckman, Margaret Knapp, Mark Frost, Troy Love and Vera Huls.
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