Heart Week
Come together with MHS students and staff to raise money for Family Friends, an organization that assists Minnetonka students and their families by paying for their heating or grocery bill, college application fee, class fees, dental or vision assistance, activity or athletic fees, or coats and clothing.
Ways to Donate
Heart Week is a chance for students and staff of MHS to come together to raise money for Family Friends, an organization that assists Minnetonka students and their families by paying for their heating or grocery bill, college application fee, class fees, dental or vision assistance, activity or athletic fees, or coats and clothing.
- $10 provides money for snacks at school for a week
- $25 covers the cost of one field trip
- $50 covers a college application fee
- $75 covers reduced lunch costs for one year
- $100 provides a grocery store gift card
Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction
About Family Friends
Family Friends is a Minnesota nonprofit corporation which is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 corporation and the State of Minnesota as a tax-exempt organization. It is registered by the Minnesota Attorney General to solicit funds. It charges no fees for services but relies on contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community organizations.
Funding
- Family Friends’ largest source of funds is the Minnetonka High School student government which raises funds through “Heart Week” in February each year.
- More than 100 Mtka School District teachers and other staff designate funds for Family Friends through United Way donor-designated gifts.
- Ridgewood Church supports Family Friends through its missions budget and by providing office space and administrative support.
- Individual donors support Family Friends through direct contributions and United Way donations through employers.
- Several philanthropic foundations provide grants.
- More than 95% of Family Friends’ funds are used for outreach program and direct financial assistance.
Family Friends Program Activities
Food to Minnetonka High School:
Family Friends partners with Caribou to provide food to Minnetonka High School students who do not have resources for breakfast at home.
Dental Care:
Family Friends sponsors a dental van to at-risk MHS students who are identified, screened and treated including fillings.
Medical Care:
Family Friends assists with obtaining appointments, transportation and arranges medical exams and referrals for at-risk students without access to medical care. Family Friends also partners with Lions Club to obtain eye exams and glasses for at-risk students.
Good Samaritan Awards:
Family Friends partners with Minnetonka Police to provide rewards to students who go out of their way to help others.
Mentoring:
Family Friends outreach workers are present daily on the high school and middle school campuses to listen to and share with students. The outreach workers connect with students who need encouragement and support to be successful at home, school and in the community.
Direct Financial Assistance:
Family Friends assists at-risk students and families by paying for clothing, student lunches, class fees, athletic fees, and school activities fees in addition to transportation and housing expenses such as rent and utilities.
Crisis Intervention:
Family Friends is an integral part of Minnetonka High School’s crisis team dealing with student and staff crises
Ongoing support and encouragement:
Family Friends provides intensive and long-term personal support and financial help when there are major family and economic issues. This often extends beyond the scope of immediate crisis in terms of time and location.
Minnetonka High School summer programs:
Family Friends partners with Cub Foods and Caribou to provide snacks and beverages as well daily encouragement and support to the students (all of whom are behind in graduation requirements).
Community Summer Program:
Family Friends collaborates with community programs in low-income housing projects by providing support and snacks for youth and their families.
Other Partnerships:
Family Friends partners with Timber Bay, Tree House, and Bren Road Alternative School who have joint programs with us in the Ridgewood Church gym.
Make a donation directly to Family Friends
Heart Week Activities
Heart Week Dress-up Days
- Monday, Feb. 12: Pajama Day
- Tuesday, Feb. 13: Monochrome Day
- Wednesday, Feb. 14: Country vs Country Club Day
- Thursday, Feb. 15: Jersey Day
- Friday, Feb. 16: HeartWeek Spirit Day (wear HeartWeek gear or red/pink/hearts)
HeartWeek Merchandise
- On sale Feb. 12-16 in the commons during lunches and on Vanco
- Cash sales available during lunches Wednesday 2/14, Thursday 2/15, and Friday 2/16 ONLY
- White & blue beanies: $15
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Heart Sunglasses: $5
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Heart Socks: $5
Vanco Link for Purchasing Items
Trivia Night
- Monday, Feb. 5, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
- Original Pancake House at 101 & 7
- $40/team of 5 or fewer - Maximum 40 teams
- Prizes for winning team in each preliminary round
- Grand prize for top team
Musical Telegrams
- Wednesday, Feb 15, hours 1-6
- Students send other students a “telegram” of student groups performing short songs in front of the class.
- These can be purchased for $7 throughout the week and are delivered on the 15th.
- Student groups will audition with the choir, orchestra, and band teachers prior to HeartWeek.
Crush Cans & Roses
- Delivered Thursday 2/15 hour 6
- Students send other students a can of Crush soda and a rose.
- These can be purchased for $5 throughout the week and are delivered during 6th hour on the 15th.
Family Friends Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction:
- Thursday, Feb. 15, 5-7 p.m.
- MHS cafeteria
- $10/person or $50/family
Silent auction (bidding opens online Monday, February 12 at 8am and closes Thursday, February 15 at 7pm)
- Dinner catered by Spasso & Crumbl Cookies
- Live music by MHS students
- Face painting and carnival games for the kids (bring your family!)
HeartWeek’s Friday Fest: Donate to Participate!
- Friday, Feb. 16
- $5/person for all activities, $7/Concert & Tonka’s Got Talent
- Assistance available from counselors for students needing a scholarship
Freshmen and sophomore activities are taking place hours 5 & 6 and junior and senior activities hours 2 & 3. (Students are expected to be in class when not participating in the Friday Fest activities; all students will attend hours 1 & 4.)
Activities for freshmen and sophomores
- Broomball in Pagel
- Basketball in West Gym
- Dodgeball in Back Gym
- Touch football in Dome
- Ultimate Frisbee in Dome
- Concert in Arts Center
- Movie in Forum
- Board Games in Black Box
Activities for juniors and seniors
- Tonka’s Got Talent in Arts Center
- Movie in Forum
- Broomball in Pagel
- Touch football in Dome
- Ultimate Frisbee in Dome
- Dodgeball in Back Gym
- Basketball in West Gym
- Board Games in Black Box
Sweethearts Dance
- Saturday, Feb. 10, 8:00-10:30 p.m.
- $15/person
- Tickets on sale on Vanco - students must show electronic ticket/receipt & student ID for entry
- MHS Commons
- Semi-formal
- Current 9-12 grade students only
- Non-MHS students must be accompanied by an MHS student and fill out the required guest forms
- Assistance available from counselors for students needing a scholarship