Glendale Shakey's Will Donate to Franklin Solar Cup Team

Highland Park-Mount Washingoton Patch has been following the Solar Cup team f, as the team of aspiring engineers has prepared for the 2012 Municipal Water District Solar Cup Challenge, to be held from May 18-21 at Lake Skinner in Temecula Valley.

In addition to drafting plans and fabricating their craft, which will need to complete a series of courses while being powered solely by the suns' rays, the team has also had to raise funds--lots of them.

Though bolstered by a $1,000 Neighborhood Purposes Grant from the , team adviser Sharon Bergh said the crew still had a ways to go to reach its funding goals. In addition to paying for supplies, the team also needs to cover the costs of entry fees and travel.

Tonight, the team hopes to get closer to its goal through a fundraiser that will be held at Shakey's Pizza in Glendale at 1133 S. Glendale Ave. from 5-8 p.m.

According to Bergh, 25 percent of all sales at Shakey's tonight will go toward the Solar Cup team.

The Solar Cup crew said they're willing to accept anything the community is willing to give, be it a small donation or volunteer time.

Perez said that Solar Cup has been a galvanizing experience, which has allowed him to put his long held love of tinkering with cars and computers to work, not competing is simply out of the question.

"We're all physically and emotionally connected to that boat," Perez said. "It's ours. It's something we built."

Anyone interested in donating time or money to the Solar Cup squad can contact Bergh at sab0174@lausd.net.