Families Flock to Redstock to Support School Programs

Families enjoyed Parsippany High School’s Redstock fundraiser on Saturday, with games, food and other activities stationed around the track of the George P. Johnson football field.

The fourth annual event benefits a variety of causes that are meaningful to students including the Red Cross, Key Club, football team, wrestling team, Model Congress and French Club, among others. The day is capped off by a Powder Puff football game between the junior and senior girls.

Redstock was billed as a family event and it lived up to this promise. Several bounce houses were crowded with eager kids. There were plenty of games for the younger ones with a ring toss, fishing for rubber ducks from a kiddie pool and a bean bag toss, with an interesting take on Gov. Chris Christie. Let’s just say that his likeness was on the grand scale. Kids could also take potshots at Sarah Palin and President Barack Obama.  

Every game produced a generous amount of winning tickets, which children could turn in at a prize table for a plethora of small, but desirable items, including stickers, stuffed animals and mini-sports balls.

In addition, the games were also creative opportunities. Necklace beading, sand art and tie-dyed T-shirt making were some of the available crafty pursuits.  The henna hand-painting table was inundated with people eager to experience the traditional mehndi designs. 

Kevin Pizzuta, vice presisent of the football and wrestling booster clubs, was among those in attendance. Pizzuta noted that the funds raised by the booster clubs from this and other events “support programs beyond school funding, such as end of year banquets and awards ceremonies.”  

Denis Mulroony, principal of Lake Parsippany Elementary School and founder of Redstock, said the event has changed since its inception, with more bounce houses and skilled competitions. He was there with his daughters who eagerly climbed the slide together on one of bounce houses.

Asked what the best thing about Parsippany High School was, student Jesse Kovacs, founder of the HAWK (Helping Animals With Kindness) Club responded, “everyone gets together and makes an effort to make events like this fun.”