Car washes raise money for CHS chorus Disney performances

Crestview High School chorus seniors Jonathon Berry, Madison Anderson and Morgan Seip wash a car Saturday morning to raise money toward the chorus’ December trip to perform at Disney World.

CRESTVIEW — Patrons of Crestview High School chorus car washes are not only treated to occasional outbursts of song, but help the 120-member organization raise hundreds of dollars toward their upcoming December performances at Walt Disney World.

“We’ve had a really good turnout,” chorus parent LaToya Matthews said as she hosed down a white Chevy.

Matthews, whose daughter Alyssa is one of the singers, said fundraisers such as the car washes — Saturday’s was the second since school resumed — teach students the importance of working toward a goal.

“They have to understand a little hard work doesn’t hurt anybody,” she said, watching as senior Morgan Seip scrubbed pine sap off the Chevy.

It will cost each student $400 to travel to Orlando for the Christmas performances at Disney World, Matthews said.

The students worked some fun into their labor. Periodically some burst into Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive,” one of the numbers the Chanticleer elite ensemble performs this season.

“Wax on, wax off,” junior Ariyana Barnes said, using the familiar line and motions from “The Karate Kid” as she scrubbed a sedan.

Supporters were usually generous with the contributions in exchange for having a bevy of hard-working students descend on their vehicles and scrub them to a gleaming shine, Matthews said.

A small minority, though, were more miserly.

“They’ve had people come and get their car washed and just give them $5,” supporter Tracy Davenport said. “I think that’s pretty tacky. Those kids are working hard.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Car washes raise money for CHS chorus Disney performances