West Bloomfield High Students Sell T-Shirts for Mansour Memorial Fund

A pair of West Bloomfield High School (WBHS) students is selling T-shirts to raise money for the Alexander and Gabrielle Memorial Fund.

The shirts will be worn by the WBHS student section, the basketball players and cheerleaders at the school’s Jan.17 home basketball game.

Organizers Emma Seidel and Bianca Hoban, who are both sophomores, were both emotionally touched by the death of the Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour on Sylvan Lake in July.

“It breaks your heart,” Hoban said. “We are trying to do something to honor them, raise money and help the schools where we went.”

All money raised will support student enrichment programs at Abbott Middle School, Scotch and Gretchko elementary schools, where Alexander, 11, and Gabrielle, 6, attended or would have attended.

“Bianca and I both went to Scotch, Gretchko and Abbott, so we feel really close to this,” Seidel said. “We want people to remember Alexander and Gabrielle. The fund is raising money for art, dance and basketball programs. Those activities were of particular interest to Gabby and Alex. And they are with me, too. I am a dancer and my brother plays basketball at Abbott.”

The shirts can only be pre-ordered. They cost $10. Order forms are available at West Bloomfield High School, Scotch, Gretchko and Abbott until Dec. 20.

“We have the support of the Mansour family,” Seidel said. “They have told us that they will attend the game, and we want to make this an extremely special event for the family.”
 
Seidel and Hoban are also raising money in other ways, such as coin drop boxes.

“One student in one of my classes came up to me and donated $50,” 
Seidel said. “Just handed it to me. He said he knew them, and that was really touching. That’s why we are doing this. That shows you how this tragedy has affected so many people in so many ways.”

For more information on how to order a T-shirt, write to aandgmansour@yahoo.com.

The Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will be a permanently endowed fund to support the West Bloomfield School District. Annual distributions from the Fund will support student enrichment programs or activities including art, dance or basketball, which were of particular interest to Alexander and Gabrielle.

The Fund also includes a preference for such programs or activities that benefit students at Gretchko Elementary School, Scotch Elementary School, and Abbott Middle School, where the Mansour children attended or planned to attend school. 

Gifts may provide donors who itemize their federal income tax deductions with the maximum allowable federal charitable tax deduction. Donors will receive a gift acknowledgement letter from the Community Foundation.

To contribute to the fund, call 313-961-6675.