Liberty High School hosted the 2025 Choirs for a Cause. This event has been an ongoing tradition in the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). Before Liberty was built, City High and West High participated in Dollars for Scholars, which would fund student scholarships. However, once Liberty joined ICCSD, the three high schools started this event to raise money for life-changing causes.
This year, the district decided to raise money for the Dragonfly Transplant Fund. This non-profit organization, which operates through the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Transplant Center, provides financial support for patients and families undergoing the transplant process.
Judy Schell-Duncan (she/her), a Liberty choir director and show choir coach, explains the significance of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund.
“This year it’s personal because we have a student that had a kidney transplant last year. We’ve talked about it at rehearsals, and then we sent out information on social media, including where to click on the website for more information,” Schell-Duncan expressed.
While the three high schools typically compete against each other, they come together for the greater good. The cause differs each year for this event. This year, the schools collectively decided to raise money for the Dragonfly Transplant Fund.
“We consulted with City [High] and West [High] because it’s a collaborative effort. I sent them an email explaining that we had a student here at Liberty, and they all signed off on the idea and agreed that it would be a good cause to fund,” Schell-Duncan shared.
Robert Williams (he/him), another choir teacher at Liberty, explained the logistics of the fundraiser.
“We get all of our money from admissions. It depends on how many people come. If it’s ten dollars a ticket and there are 800 seats and each one is filled, we would be raising 8,000 dollars” he explained. “But something cool we also do is give some of that money to our middle schools. Ultimately, it’s typically over five grand that goes towards the funds (Dragonfly Fund).”
Choirs for a Cause continues to make a difference in the community by providing entertainment and raising vital funds for meaningful causes, enacting change through song and dance.
