By Vince Teresi
Where can you find an evening of laughter, more laughter, and entertainment all while raising money for a good cause?
The answer is the Mr. JFK Pageant, where five senior boys will compete for the coveted title, while raising money for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
Mr. JFK contestants are seniors Kyle Kinyon, Johnny Inoue, Dylan Arritola, Elisha Valladares and Tom Schmidt.
The boys will compete in a talent show that includes modeling beach and formal wear.
The event is Thursday, May 26, beginning with the annual Habitat for Humanity Spaghetti Feed’ Dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the Mr. JFK Pageant at 7 p.m. Both events will be at Kennedy High School, 890 E. Marquam St. Tickets for the show are $5. The dinner is $10 for an individual and $40 for a family of up to six.
Tickets will be available at the door.
The Mr. JFK candidates are senior boys selected by vote of their classmates to represent their school in the talent pageant. A panel of judges from the three Mount Angel District schools scores the JFK gentlemen on their performances.
Both the dinner and pageant are opportunities to raise money to help those in need. A representative from Doernbecher Hospital will be present to explain the significance of how small donations can help in a big way.
The audience is encouraged to put their ticket-ballot into the voting jar representing the boy whom they believe exhibited the best all-around performance for the evening. Those tickets will help determine the amount of money raised by each boy.
Kennedy High School teacher Jessica Schmidtman is the event’s moderator.
“This year, we are looking to expand upon the evening by including an entire week dedicated to the virtue of charity,” Schmidtman said, adding students will also participate in a canned food drive.
“It is a great opportunity for a loving and generous community to come together and support these talented young men, as well as their local Habitat chapter that does so much for the Mount Angel and Silverton communities,” Schmidtman said.
For information about both events, call Kennedy High School at 503-845-6128.
