For the second time in Highland Park High Schools 16-year charity drive history it has raised more than $200,000.

In the high schools Charity Drive 2010 closing ceremony March 16, the school announced in a dramatic video presentation that it raised $209,000 after its month-long, school-wide fundraising event in February.

All funds raised, in addition to matched funds by an anonymous donor, will go toward the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of Americas pediatric research program in Illinois.

Crohns Disease is a chronic digestive or gastrointestinal disorder, and the related disorder, Ulcerative colitis, are part of a larger illness category called Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

An estimated 1.4 million people in the United States suffer from Crohns and colitis, according to the Centers for Disease Controls Web site. The peak age for onset of IBD is 15 to 30 years old, with 10 percent of cases occurring in people younger than 18 years old, the CDC said.

You as a community have changed lives, said Marianne Floriano, executive director CCFAs Illinois Carol Fisher Chapter. Your efforts, your energy (during) charity drive is going to change the course of treatment for children from this point forward. This money [will] go toward three years worth of research here in Illinois.

If youre ever asked if one community, one school, one person can make a difference, you say, yes, Floriano added. Because, one community, one school, one person has made a difference. You paid it forward.

Pay it forward is a message the school adopted during this years drive.

At the start of charity drive, we talked about a new slogan, Pay it forward, said Brad Swanson, Highland Park High School principal. We talked about the importance of looking beyond ourselves, not looking for things in return, but doing the right thing simply because theres a need that needs to be met.

The closing ceremony included speeches by student senate members, the principal, Floriano and Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky, who delivered a mayoral proclamation.

I just was amazed at the collaboration and very moved by your efforts, Belsky said. Winston Churchill said, We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. And I think thats demonstrated here today by all of you.

When I come to the high school and see [this] sort of effort, my hearts full, Belsky added. There is great hope for the future. Youre all going to change the world and its going to be a great place to live, thank you.

The charity drive, which kicked off Jan. 29 included events such as a battle of the bands, food sales in school, a dance marathon, T-shirt sales, HP Idol, a chili cook-off and more.

By Blair Chavis|Triblocal.com reporter
Triblocal.com photos by Blair Chavis