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Fundraiser honors daughter’s memory, helps ACC students

ALPENA — Sharon Schrader hopes to raise more than $6,000 during this year’s Samantha L. Schrader Memorial Scholarship Fund fundraising event.

The fundraiser takes place from 12-5 p.m. Saturday at Thunder Bowl Lanes in Alpena. Samantha’s mother, Shannon, said there will be raffles, bake sale and more.

“The first year we raised $3,000 to give to students graduating,” Shannon said. “Last year we doubled it to $6,000. This year we’re hoping to meet or exceed the $6,000.”

The scholarship is with Alpena Community College Foundation and was formed in Samantha’s memory, she said.

Samantha died after a car accident when she was 16 years old on Sept. 7, 2014.

“She was into school; an overachiever, outgoing and incredibly smart,” Shannon said. “She was definitely going to school. In 2015 some of her friends and their parents wanted to do this function.”

With every year it continued to grow, she said.

With the money raised last year they were able to donate $500 to 12 students who planned to attend ACC.

People in attendance are encouraged to wear Samantha’s favorite color, pink, to earn extra raffle tickets.

“My husband does woodwork. All three years we’ve built things to raffle off and give away,” she said. “This year we have a swing, keepsake chest and a bench to raffle.”

Shannon said they’ve been lucky to receive so much help from Samantha’s family and friends.

“It means the world to us. It’s keeping her name and memory alive for positive things,” Shannon said. “Helping (students) do something she never had the opportunity to do.”

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.

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