(November 23, 2004) -- Worn down ghettos, children running around in nothing but rags, and homeless people overpopulating the streets. These are some of the hardships ASB Director of Activities senior Sandra Belderian witnessed as a child in Iraq. Her personal tie to Iraq makes Clark Magnet’s Iraq Drive all the more personal to Belderian.

Clark Magnet held a drive to gather gently used toys, school supplies and clothes to send to the underprivileged children in Iraq. According to Belderian, Clark’s initial goal of raising up to 400,000 points in donations surpassed by a whopping score of over 500,000 points.

“My family is from Iraq. It means a lot more to me because I feel as if my community is being helped,” said Belderian.

Silva Mirzoian, founder of Passions and Dreams Funding Incorporated, an organization that helps out third world countries, offered Clark the opportunity to hold this drive. Clark is one of four schools in California to take part in this event. After seeing the piles of donations at the bottom of the amphitheatre, tears of happiness streamed down her face. “I’m overwhelmed by how all the students have come together to compile such a great donation. It’s incredible,” she said.

In an attempt to encourage students to donate, ASB offered a prize to the winning fourth period class. Mary Mardirosian’s class collected over 100,000 points in donations alone. “We just wanted to do our part and help the kids in Iraq,” she said. “We weren’t even thinking about winning.”