Middle School Choir Gives Concert Money To Fire Victim

PALM SPRINGS – Emotions are high, as students empathize with a classmate who lost so much.

“That’s the worst thing that could happen,” says Blair Pietragallo, Raymond Cree Middle School student and classmate of Ciria Silva.

In a choir class at Raymond Cree Middle School, everyone wonders the same thing. What if it happened to me?

“I can’t imagine going through the rest of my life without my family,” says Raymond Cree Middle School student, Skye Paul. ” Going through high school and all of the changes and college.”

“If I was in her situation, to wake up to no family at all, I don’t know what I’d do,” says Andrew Eisenmann, Vocal Music Director at Raymond Cree Middle School.

Early New Year’s Day, 13-year-old Ciria Silva’s mother, brother and 2 sisters died in a mobile home fire. It’s a tragedy to hard for some young minds to grasp.

“It was like a cartoon, like that’s not true,” says Paul.

Ciria is a teacher’s aid in Andrew Eisenmann’s first period choir class at Raymond Cree. Classmates say Ciria’s family meant everything to her.

“All over her binder she had pictures of her family.” Pietragallo.

The young students are reaching out to Ciria. They’re canceling a big trip and competition and using the travel expenses to support their friend and classmate.

“It feels good to help her out,” says Kyrstyn Gillespie, Ciria’s classmate.

After fundraising for months, the choir raised about 4-thousand dollars for an annual music festival and trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. Now, they’re putting the money in a trust for Ciria’s future.

“Our boosters, from that trust, will write her full tuition check,” says Eisenmann. ” That’s my goal.”

Students hope this sacrifice will help their friend on her difficult journey ahead.

“We are giving up a day to help her out for the next 8 years or so,” says Paul. ” It’s definitely worth it.”

If you’d like to donate to Ciria’s education fund set up by the choir, there’s an account set up at Wells Fargo – the number is 5053365804.

Raymond Cree Middle School is also taking donations to help with funeral costs.

In addition, the school is holding car washes on Wednesday and Thursday from 3pm-6pm.