Students raise $1,000 with Bieber song

EVANSTON, Ill., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Two suburban Chicago high school students raised money for a non-profit coffee shop by repeatedly playing a Justin Bieber song over the school's loudspeaker.

Evanston Township High School seniors Charlotte Runzel and Jesse Chatz said they received permission from administrators to blast Bieber's hit song "Baby" at the end of each class period and told classmates the musical torture would end when they reached their fundraising goal of $1,000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.

The teenagers said they raised the cash in just three days for the non-profit Boocoo coffee shop and cultural center, which also has a performance space and provides music, dance and other lessons.

"It made me smile to look at what we can do and look at the money we are raising," Chatz said.

Alicia Hempfling, Boocoo's administrator, said she and the shop's workers were grateful for the students' efforts.

"People who work here ... are just incredibly moved by the fact that these kids came to us and wanted to help out Boocoo," Hempfling said.

Hempfling said Boocoo will be providing the high school with its performance space free of charge for the presentation of senior projects.