Help Mr. Kopel and Mr. Tharin Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

1. Who you are

This fundraiser is being arranged by Palm Harbor University High School's IB class of 2026, this GoFundMe is being managed by Mathew Habib

2. Where you're from

The organizer, Mathew Habib, and the recipients, Jonathan Tharin and Christopher Kopel, are all residents of Palm Harbor Florida. which were directly impacted by the September 2024 Hurricane Helene.

3. Your relationship with the parties you're raising funds for

I, Mathew Habib, am a student of Jonathan Tharin and Christopher Kopel at Palm Harbor University High School.

4. How the funds will be sent?

The fund will be transferred to a Regions bank account that I, Mathew Habib, own. After the complete amount of money is transferred, 100% of all the donations will be distributed evenly between both of the recipients, Christopher Kopel and Jonathan Tharin.

5. How will the funds be spent?

The funds collected through this fundraiser will be spent directly by the recipients, Christopher Kopel and Jonathan Tharin, on repair and damage expenses caused by Hurricane Helene. The money will also be used to replace any artifacts that were lost during the storm.

Mr. Christopher Kopel is our beloved IB Theory of Knowledge teacher at Palm Harbor University High School. Mr. Tharin is our beloved IB English and AP Lit teacher also at PHUHS.

Although Mr. Kopel joined the home of the Hurricanes this school year, he has already become part of our IB family. All of Mr. Kopel's students can agree that he has not only given us a different view on human life, but he's also become a trustworthy individual for his students on campus. He's become a mentor, inspiration, and friend to his students in the last two months. Mr. Kopel's discussions have opened many of our eyes to see that humanity is more than what meets the eye. He's developed a sound foundation in his students on social dynamics and human behavior in these past two months alone. Mr. Kopel has become part of his 11th-grade students' motivation to come to school, and he's demonstrated to us the power of thinking.

Mr. Jonathan Tharin has been a pillar of the IB program for more years than he cares to admit, but his impact continues to grow with each class he teaches. His students universally agree that his soft-spoken demeanor carries immense insight, offering not only a fresh approach to literature but also to life. His classroom has become a place of reflection, where we're challenged to think critically and explore texts with curiosity. In this space, he’s shown us the transformative power of language, both in literature and in our journeys. Mr. Tharin’s calm expertise inspires us, and his consistent presence motivates us to approach each day with purpose and passion.

Sadly, Mr. Kopel and Mr. Tharin were both devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Mr. Kopel lost his home after the record-breaking storm surge from Helene on Tampa Bay. Along with his home, he has lost almost everything but a few books and picture frames after the tragic flood, yet he still managed to show up to school a few days later after driving 2 hours from his current living arrangements. This is a precise representation of Mr. Kopel's character, although we've known him for a few months, we know he would do anything for the kids he teaches.

Although Mr. Tharin has been mostly silent about the struggles he and his family faced after Helene, his students are aware of the damage Helene has caused him and his family. After missing only a few days of school, we understood the seriousness of his situation and decided to help raise money for our two selfless teachers who still managed to show up for the kids they teach! They will use all funds to pay for repairs and the replacement of the articles that were lost during Hurricane Helene. They will receive their money via a personal check after the money is transferred to one of my bank accounts. Both of the recipients will receive 50% of the funds. The funds will be given to each teacher directly and used at their discretion to help restore their homes or provide for their families.

We're here for you!

#hurricanesstrong

-11th grade IB family