Q. What is Brunswick for a Brighter Future?
Michael: It’s a team launched mid-November of last year to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in its goal of finding a cure for blood cancers. I’ve always had a passion for helping people, and one of my good friends is a leukemia survivor. Going into my freshman year, one of my coaches was diagnosed. Hearing his story really encouraged me to get this going.
Q. How did your group raise money?
Michael: We tried to spread word about the society through dining donates (local restaurants donating a portion of a day’s sales to the group), sending out letters at kickoff, events throughout the community and approaching local businesses to ask for their support. The company that was our biggest supporter was Compass Self Storage, which donated $7,000.
Our big event was a Shave to Save. Four teachers competed, and the one who raised the most money got their head shaved during halftime of a basketball game against one of our biggest rivals. The winner was football coach Owen Coughlin (known as Coach O).
Q. How much did you raise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?
Michael: We kicked off fundraising on Jan. 27 and finished March 18. Our original goal was $25,000. The team raised more than $50,000, double our original goal. We were really happy with our outcome.
Q. Youíll be a senior next year. Will you be leading the team again?
Michael: No, but I will be right there helping them with anything they need. Next year’s leaders will be my sister, Maggie Romano, Teddy Bickley and Sebastian Morels, all members of the Brunswick High School class of 2025.
