What is the Ken-Ton School's Jerry Starr Sleep Out?

On Friday February 7th, the The 38th Annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools' Sleepout  kicked off at Kenmore East High School. This is the first year in the 38 year history of the  sleepout that it took place at Kenmore East. In the past, the sleepout has taken place at various  other schools in the district, Most recently Hoover in 2023 and right here at Kenmore West in  2024.  

The Sleepout is named in honor of one of its founders, Samuel “Jerry” Starr, a longtime  teacher at Kenmore West. The first ever Ken-Ton sleepout was set up in 1988 by Jerry Starr and  his colleagues, Steve Ash and Charles Kohler. The sleepout is held every year on the first Friday in February. Participants are able to sleep in cardboard boxes outside as a way to raise money for local charitable organizations and raise awareness of the needs of families in our community and worldwide. Throughout the past 37 years, the sleepout has been able to raise approximately $1,000,000 as well as donations of food, clothing, everyday necessities, and small furniture for those in need in the Western New York and Ken-Ton communities. This year, proceeds from the sleepout were used to benefit the Ken-Ton  Family Support Center, and The Ken-Ton Closet. Per the official GoFundMe page from the sleepout they have partnered with these organizations as, “The Kenton Family Support Center  provides individual and family counseling and connections to local mental health service  providers for hundreds of families annually at the former Longfellow Building on Myron  Avenue behind Kenmore Middle School and The Ken-Ton Closet provides new and gently used clothing and other everyday necessities for hundreds of families annually at its site in the former Jefferson Elementary building.” Another key group of individuals who help make the sleepout succeed is the group Educators Totally Committed (E.T.C.) which was started by Steve Ash. The E.T.C. is a group that consists of Ken-Ton staff, students, and community members. These members help to emphasize the importance of teaching responsible social behaviors at an early age by helping to promote involvement in  age-appropriate activities that are set up as a way to help people that are in need throughout their  community. For the Sleepout the E.T.C. helps to bring together people from many community organizations including not just Ken-Ton Schools but also St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic  Church. 

This year, Elizabeth Violino, our Kenmore West Student Council Junior Secretary,  alongside myself our Student Council Junior Treasurer were fortunate enough to be able to serve  as Kenmore West representatives. At the beginning of the event, Mr. Ash along with other  members of the KenTon community such as Mayor Patrick Mang, Ken-Ton closet head, and  town supervisor Jill O’mally, and Superintendent Mr. Cimato. Other notable individuals who  were there included Kenmore West Principal Mr. Johnson and Kenmore East Principal Mr.  Brown. In the area of the sleepout, there were several fires where community members  participating could come together and talk with each other. Inside the Single Point of Entry, there  were refreshments that individuals could enjoy. While we personally did not spend the night  sleeping out, it is definitely something that we both will consider doing next year. We hope that  you consider joining us next year at the sleepout!  

For anyone interested in donating, the GoFundMe  

can be found at:  

https://www.gofundme.com/f/38th-annual-jerry 

starr-kenton-schools-sleepout