Huntington High School’s BioSol Virtual Enterprise company saw a need and stepped up to fill the void, donating $350 to the Helping Hand Rescue Mission on Broadway in Huntington Station. The organization will use the funds to lift up as many children and families whose lives have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic as it possibly can in short order.
“BioSol spent countless hours fundraising throughout the school year,” said Paige Tyree Furman, who teaches the business class. “It hosted a successful networking night and numerous pizza and bake sales. After buying promotional items for the company, it was left with $350.00 in its account, which was going to go towards a booth set up at the April Virtual Enterprise trade show. Of course, the trade show ended up getting cancelled and BioSol was left with that balance.”
John Holly (center) holds a mock check while flanked by Isaiah James and Marcus Maerz.
Schools might be closed, but the BioSol company team continues to march on. “Two weeks ago, I posted a survey on Google Classroom asking the class members what they would like to do with the remaining $350,” Mrs. Furman said. “Without exception, every student wanted to donate the money to a local charity in order to give back to their community during these trying times.”
A delegation of students met in the parking lot at Helping Hand Rescue Mission with their masks on and check in hand. “These kids once again blew me away with their generosity, compassion, initiative and their ability to take action,” Mrs. Furman said.
“BioSol would never have succeeded without the help of the community,” junior Isaiah James said. “It was only natural to give back to that same community in its time of need.”
The Virtual Enterprise course involves class participants developing and operating a simulated business within a corporate structure to prepare them for the real life business world.
BioSol boasts that it’s the producer of the “first-ever” biodegradable sunscreen wipes. “We at BioSol are striving to make sun protection a quick, easy and environmentally-friendly process,” company CEO Charles O’Rourke said. “We produce our sunscreen wipes using only 100 per cent all-natural ingredients that are healthier for the skin and can be safely returned to the environment after use.”
The executive team also includes Matt Gennarelli (chief operating officer), Alex Gonzalez (chief financial officer), Sarah Giarriaputo (human resources administrator), John Holly (chief sales officer), Andreas Seferian (vice president of design needs) and Isaiah James (office manager).
Harry Cozine is the “brain” behind BioSol’s “billion dollar” idea. Mackenzie Eccles’ artistic talents have advanced the company and its product. Nick Lomler’s mastery of Adobe Photoshop and digital design have put the firm on the cutting edge of such concepts.
The BioSol company team also includes equally vital members Alexa Amorison, Ben Collins, Jack Flores, Aiden Franznick, Liam Hassett, Owen Husselbeck, Charles Kiviat, Marcus Maerz, Eunice-Bonita Ramos, Cameron Santa-Maria and Christopher Weber.
Helping Hand Rescue Mission has been striving to improve the lives of children, families and the people of the community at large for decades, providing service to all that come to its doors, “whether they be rich or poor, high or low social studies,” the organization’s website states. “We are here to love, to serve and to give.”