New Maricopa Middle School PTO hosts family night at Ramsey’s American Grill

If you thought you saw clowns roaming around the Fry’s Marketplace plaza on Wednesday, September 20, your eyes were not playing tricks.

To help the struggling new Maricopa Middle School and its fledgling PTO group, Ramsey’s American Grill will be hosting the school’s Family Nights from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. once a month until May. The events will include clowns and face painting, food and balloon animals! Ten percent of every meal purchased during the event will go to the organization.

A middle school student watches as clown Lovely Buttons wrestles a balloon into shape.

Professional face and body painter Nancy Kartoon, who has recently done work at the Gila County Fair, and several other clowns donated their time and talents for September’s Family Night. As a result of the balloon animals, face painting, and general cash donations, the group accumulated $128, in addition to the ten percent of generated sales at the restaurant, which was $200.

Middle school cheerleader Korissa Moser checks face painter Nancy Kartoon’s handiwork in a mirror.
Below: Erica Fayen gets the middle school’s mascot Panther painted on her cheek.

Parent Jane Langelier won the 50/50 Drawing raffle, which was half of the money the PTO earned in donations. Langelier accepted, and duly turned it right back over to the organization as her contribution.

Thanks to a balloon crown, this little girl got to be royalty for a night.

The next family night on October 30 may include a DJ or guest band donating their time to a worthy cause. For more information, contact PTO president Melissa Croft at [email protected].