Mr. Lincoln High more than just entertainment Friday, February 26, 2010 Jon-Paul Wimer, senior journalist 2:05 PM - President Franklin D. Roosevelt, stricken with what was believed to be polio, founded a charity to raise money for medical research. In the late 1930s, a popular newsreel called the “March of Time” was in play. Knowing of this newsreel, as well as the routine of people donating dimes to Roosevelt’s charity, comedian Eddie Cantor started the so-called title “March of Dimes” – and it has stuck ever since. The name became official in 1979. Fast forward some 12 years, a Lincoln High School teacher, Beth Wyszomierski, gave birth to a child 7 weeks premature, leading to the start of a March of Dimes Club and a beauty pageant unlike them all. If it wasn’t for the March of Dimes research, Mrs. Wyszomierski’s son Mark may not have been so lucky. “He needed surfactant therapy developed from research by the March of Dimes to help him breathe,” said Wyszomierski, creator of the March of Dimes Club. “Mark will turn 18 next Friday and is very healthy.” As part of the March of Dimes Club, Wyszomierski created the Mr. Lincoln High pageant to raise money for the March of Dimes Foundation. “This year marks the 11th Mr. Lincoln High pageant,” said Wyszomierski. “We have raised over $19,500 for the March of Dimes Foundation. Nine Lincoln students will be vying for the title – John DeCaro, Christian Kegel, Keith Leddon, Mike Marinaccio, Eric McCall, Nick Meehan, Matt Morella, Ross Paswell, and Steven Todd. During the pageant, you can expect a variety of entertainment. All the contestants will dance in an opening number to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Each contestant will show off their beachwear, their formal wear, and even a talent. Finally, the Mistresses of Ceremonies, March of Dimes Club co-presidents Mikaela Wadding and Colleen McCarty, will ask each contestant a question from the information on their application. The 11th Annual Mr. Lincoln High pageant is set for 7:00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) in the Lincoln High School auditorium. Proceeds from the pageant will benefit the March of Dimes Foundation, West Penn chapter. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 and doors will open at 6:15pm.