Reuniting for a cause: Craig High School Class of 1999 reunion and benefit

JANESVILLE — The Craig High School Class of 1999 will reunite with a deeper purpose, raising money for a classmate’s 6-year-old daughter who has already had one heart transplant and may need another in the future.

The reunion is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Craig High School auditorium, 401 S. Randall Ave.

The event is open to the public, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. A $5 donation is appreciated, however the event is free.

Alumnus Zach May organized the reunion with the high school after coming up with the idea last year.

May said a classmate’s daughter had a heart transplant.

“She might have to have another one in 10 years and it just hit me pretty hard,” May said. “I wanted to see what we could do as a class to help our classmate.”

Alumnus Evan Palan and his wife, Jenny Palan, will receive the donations to help their daughter, Lily Palan. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association has a donation page for Lily, where readers can learn more about her story, at www.cota.org/cotaforlilysheart/.

“Everybody has their struggles and I’d like to think we’re here to help each other out and get through things,” May said.

Come together to celebrate the class’ 25th anniversary and remember classmates who have since passed. The memorial dedication includes Hondo Schmidt, Christopher Francis, Justin Hemenway and Kyle Lawrence.

Bands playing include Y3K, Sunny Roads Band, Joe Sweet and Jestin Jay Trio. Other musical guests include Makenna Brown, Jason Goldsmith, Nate Palan, Pat Anderson, Eric Schooff and Katie Clark Sieben. May is a drummer and will be performing with multiple bands that evening.

“It’s going to be a great time catching up with a lot of people,” May said. “How often do you get to do something like this?”

He hasn’t seen his classmates since their last reunion five years ago. May looks forward to seeing people’s growing families and hopes they “get inspired by the music.”

There’s also a free raffle of four prizes. The prizes include: eight gift certificates to Italian House; nine gift certificates to Kwik Trip; a guitar package and four gift certificates for Voigt Music Center; and a family four pack of Brewer tickets.