Ayala’s Dance Program hosted a Chipotle fundraiser in the Shoppes on Tuesday, September 9, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event had a fantastic turnout from the friends and family of Ayala Dance, filling Chipotle with laughter and chatter through the afternoon and into the night, supporting Ayala’s talented dancers with burritos and bowls. Twenty-five percent of all the proceeds went back to Ayala’s Dance Program, and more than $800 was raised.

The purpose of this event was to help Ayala buy costumes, props, and other necessities for dancers to look and perform at their best, as well as to help cover any additional costs that the program may have to face throughout the year. For all dancers at Ayala, the fundraiser was important to ensure their experience in the Dance Program goes as smoothly as it did in the past.

“[The fundraiser] contributes to our dance concerts, and makes it more entertaining for the viewers,” Amielle Burog (10), a dancer in the Intermediate dance class, said. 

This direct support from the Ayala community is what allows the Dance Program to grow and flourish throughout the years. Fundraisers such as these give students the ability to dream bigger, make the dance class curriculum more exciting, and to truly have their visions for the dance concerts come to life.

“I want to see [the program] be more extravagant as the years go by,” senior Sebastian Concepcion, a dancer in the Ayala Dance Program for the past two years, said. “The thing is, for it to be more extravagant, we need money.”

The fundraiser being held at the Chipotle in the Shoppes provided the perfect location for the event. It gave students the opportunity to walk after school with their friends or invite their family later on for dinner. Even for those with busy schedules, Chipotle allowed easy and fast online orders that made it possible for those with their hands full to grab some tasty dinner. Not only were people able to support Ayala’s Dance Program, but they experienced a fun and memorable dine out while they were at it.

The attendance for the event was phenomenal, with supporters of Ayala Dance in every nook and cranny of the restaurant, filling Chipotle with a festive atmosphere as friends studied together, parents caught up with one another, and dancers enjoyed their food. 

“I saw so many familiar faces at the fundraiser and I was proud that a lot of people came to the fundraiser to support the dance team,” Nikki Sivixay, a sophomore in the Intermediate dance class, said. 

In the past, the program has had other means to raise money, such as the Annual See’s Candy Fundraiser they hold in the winter, or the Blast Athletics app that other sports at Ayala utilize. However, students seem to look forward to and enjoy Chipotle more than the other fundraisers the Dance Program has done previously. 

“I think it’s better because it appeals more to the students’ taste,” Burog said.

The undeniable success of this event has now led to the anticipation of fundraisers such as these later on in the year. This quick, easy, but still all together pleasurable, way to raise money puts a new spin on how fundraisers can be run: allowing students to reap benefits in the fundraising event itself through a good time.

“I will definitely look forward to these fundraisers in the future,” Sivixay said. “The dine out events at these popular restaurants seem to be eye-catching to others, and it’s more than great because their contributions lead to a great cause and their support goes a long way.”