NHS Cheerleaders: $15,000 Raised and $5,000 Still Needed to Get to Gator Bowl

With less than a month left, Naugatuck High School cheerleaders aren't giving up in their quest to get to Jacksonville, Fla., for the Gator Bowl.

And within just a few months, they've done a good job at raising the necessary funds.

The 23-member cheer leading squad has so far raised $15,000 of the necessary $20,000 to get pay for the trip and enter competition during the Gator Bowl's parade and half-time event. Just a few weeks ago around Oct. 10, that number stood at $7,500 — all from fund raising efforts.

Perhaps NHS cheerleader Victoria Hendricks, a junior, summed it up best.

"We aren't the wealthiest town, (but) money isn't everything," Hendricks said. "It's really true that the hardest work does pay off."

She added, "we want to get there."

The cheerleaders, lead by head coach Jennifer Miller, have garnered all the money through donations and fund raising events. The most recent was a pasta dinner at the Portuguese Club in downtown Naugatuck — and the funds from that haven't even been included in that final $15,000 tally.

"The clothing drive we did was also good," Miller told Patch.

Many local businesses and organizations have also donated, as well as individuals.

As for the preparation, the team is already planning its routine and has half of it all set, Miller said. After Thanksgiving, the team will work on the second half of the routine as well.