As sports seasons kick off and the extracurricular school year progresses, many Edina High School team captains, coaches, and club presidents turn to fundraising as a way to grow their programs. With so many activities and athletics at EHS, fundraiser organizers are finding unique ways to utilize Edina’s local businesses and shopping centers to generate funding for their programs.
A popular fundraising destination for EHS activities is local grocery store Jerry’s. Activities that fundraise at Jerry’s set up a table by the exit of the store where shoppers can learn more about the program and make donations. Players also help customers by bringing grocery bags to their cars for some cash. This fundraiser is not unique to Jerry’s, as the new Kowalski’s Market at Southdale Center has partnered with EHS activities such as Model United Nations to carry out bags.
For the Edina Girls’ Lacrosse team, fundraising at Jerry’s brings attention to the program. “We do a fundraiser at Jerry’s during Super Bowl weekend because it’s very populated, and lots of people were there to buy groceries that weekend,” senior lacrosse captain Lyric Busby said.
The money the Girls’ Lacrosse team raises at Jerry’s goes to costs such as busing to and from games, season attire, and gameday needs like snacks. But for Busby, it’s not only about the fundraising for these costs.
“We all had our lacrosse badges on when we were [carrying bags] so there were some alumni moms who were there checking in with us,” Busby said. “There were people who were like, ‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to get into lacrosse,’ so it’s kind of encouraging.”
Some fundraisers come in a more word-of-mouth form, like the Latin Club’s December fundraiser at Barnes & Noble bookstore in the Galleria. Customers buying books or drinks from the cafe just have to mention the Edina Latin Club when checking out, and a portion of the purchase will go to the club.
Much of the Latin Club’s Barnes & Noble fundraiser goes towards planning their spring fundraiser/field trip, Latin Surprise. The Latin Club presidents plan a secret field trip that all Latin students in the district are able to attend along with a points system and prizes, such as a cookie party.
“Latin Surprise is our big [fundraiser] that is coming up. We plan out a big field trip that celebrates the birth of Rome and [we] hang out somewhere fun,” said Latin Club co-president Megan Zavadil.
“[The fundraisers] are pretty effective—middle schoolers like field trips and everybody that takes Latin likes reading, so everybody shows up to Barnes & Noble,” Zavadil said.“Last year, we went roller skating [for Latin Surprise]. As much as it’s a fundraiser, it’s also just a way for everybody to get together and celebrate the fact that we all take Latin.”
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 8, 2025
