Branford High School (BHS) Performing Arts students raised $4,646 to benefit UNICEF-Ukraine during the spring musical Anything Goes, March 16-20.

The students used their annual spring musical – Anything Goes – as an opportunity to spread awareness about the war's most vulnerable victims – children – and to raise support from audiences at every show. Hundreds of people throughout the town and beyond contributed in the lobby, via Venmo, or through friends in attendance. To incentivize donations, a group of donors whose children were performing in the show launched a fundraising challenge, which matched every dollar donated to the effort up to $1,300.

"We were thrilled that so many people gave so generously to our effort," said Liev Shpitalnik, student organizer of the fundraising campaign. "On behalf of all of us in the cast and crew of Anything Goes, we want to thank every donor who gave: each gift, large and small, made a real difference."

"We are truly proud of our students and of Branford for coming together in this way," said Mike Martone, Music Director at BHS.

According to UNICEF, "...the past eight years of conflict in Ukraine have already inflicted profound and lasting harm on children. Now, the threats to Ukraine's children have grown as homes, schools, orphanages, and hospitals have all come under attack. Two million children have been forced to flee Ukraine, with more than 2.5 million children estimated to have been internally displaced. Such large displacements could have lasting consequences for generations to come. Meanwhile, civilian infrastructure like water and sanitation facilities have been hit, leaving millions with limited or no access to safe water. UNICEF is working with partners to reach vulnerable children and families with essential services – including health, education, protection, water and sanitation – as well as life-saving supplies."

BHS students' commitment to refugee assistance was launched last fall when Music Makers, an auditioned group and vocal class for the tenth-through-twelfth grade students, produced Sing Them Home, a concert benefitting refugee resettlement efforts for Afghan refugees. The students raised $2,000 to benefit Branford's Helping Families Settle Program.

In total, BHS Student efforts have raised $6,646 during this academic year to assist refugees fleeing violence in their home countries.