Huntington Park : Cheerleaders Raising Funds for Trip to National Contest

The Nimitz Middle School spirit squad is trying to raise $19,000 by late February so it can attend a national cheerleading competition in Jacksonville, Fla.

The 14-member squad hopes that Huntington Park businesses will buy $16,000 in advertising space for a program that will be distributed at the competition, scheduled March 19-21. Parents of the cheerleaders are being asked to contribute an additional $3,000, squad adviser Iris Dixon said.

Businesses have until Feb. 15 to buy ads, which they can design or ask the cheerleading squad to produce, Dixon said. Ads range from $100 to $500.

This is the second year in a row the squad has qualified for the cheerleading competition, which is sponsored by Cheerleaders of America. The students were unable to attend last year because they lacked funds to make the trip.

The cost of the trip this year is expected to be about $21,000, Dixon said. Cheerleaders have raised $2,000 since the beginning of the school year through candy sales, car washes and other events. The total must be forwarded to the national organization by the end of February, she said. Information: (213) 585-0957.