Pueblo youths raise $3,000 in one day for PAWS For Life during Colorado Youth Awareness Week
Putting rivalries aside, students from six Pueblo-area high schools joined forces Thursday to raise about $3,000 for Paws for Life animal shelter, 800 N. Pueblo Blvd., during Colorado Youth Awareness Week's Community Service Day event outside of the shelter.
Students from Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo Central, Pueblo County, Pueblo East, Pueblo South and Pueblo West high schools raised funds for PAWS through efforts including a dunk tank where community members could donate $5 to douse well-known Pueblo high school staff members like Pueblo East High School Principal Andy Clementi and Pueblo South Head Football Coach Ryan Goddard.
"We knew (PAWS) was a huge place in the community, and after the fire recently, we wanted to help," Pueblo East High School senior Skylar Clark said.
In April 2022, a fire near Pueblo Boulevard and West 11th Street led to the temporary evacuation of animals at the nearby PAWS shelter. In addition to the dunk tank proceeds, funds generated by selling snow cones and through donation boxes at booths throughout the event all went to PAWS to fund supplies and food for animals. Participating youngsters also conducted a community cleanup around the campus during the event.
"It brings the community together," Pueblo East High School senior Amanda Reyes said. "All our schools came together and they sold as many tickets as they could to their students ... I'm really excited to see all the students from every single school come and enjoy this event that we've been planning."
Colorado Youth Awareness Week began as Pueblo Youth Awareness Week in 2016. Local advocate Jesse Sena started the annual event to increase opportunities for youth civic engagement and career development. In 2018, then-Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a proclamation to make Youth Awareness Week a statewide event.
This year's proclamation, signed by Jared Polis, was read by Pueblo South High School junior Albanie Cordova on Monday during a Colorado Youth Awareness Week kick-off event at the State Human Services Building in Denver. On Tuesday, which was Youth Career Expression Day, Pueblo youths learned about automotive, health, machining and welding programs at Pueblo Community College.
As part of Youth Leadership Day on Wednesday, participants met with representatives from Pueblo City Council, chambers of commerce and local colleges at the Graham's Grill south side location, 1745 S. Pueblo Blvd.
"We all gathered around," Pueblo West High School junior Paola Trevizo said. "We talked about what leadership meant, how to be transparent and things like that."
Thursday was Community Service Day.
On Friday, July 29, the Pueblo County Youth Advisory Council will host a back-to-school giveaway at 11 a.m., live on Instagram. Students will have the opportunity to win a tablet or a backpack full of supplies among other prizes.
For more information, contact the Pueblo County Youth Advisory Council at 719-299-9964.
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo students fundraise for PAWS For Life during Youth Awareness Week
