Monday, October 26, 2009
HIGH SCHOOL FUNDRAISING WEEK RAISES $870,000
by Sherie Smith
The Fundraising Designer
3 Hours To Fundraising Success Group
The Fundraising Designer
3 Hours To Fundraising Success Group
On the Greenvilleonline.com , I read an article dated October 25, 2009 and it was about high school rivalry! In todays' world that conversation would normally deal with gangs, clicks, fights, graffity, injuries, etc. But this article has it's own style of bragging and I much prefer it. You see, it involves charity, school spirit, cooperation, 'teamsmanship', sharing, caring - you know, all those boring, 'not-always-that-popular' topics.
The article quotes Graham Bichell, student body president for Greenville High School, Greenville, South Carolina. He says, "It's a completely different week around here." Not a profund statement until you realize the reason why he said it. Around 31 years ago, two principals decided to do something about a nasty school rivalry. They decided to create positive feelings, positive actions and positive results. They turned local school rivalry into humongous teen-pride! (the good kind, that is)
For the last 20 years straight now, their ingenius plan has been going strong and growing by leaps and bounds every year. Charity weeks are held featuring good-natured competition between local rival schools. As I understand it, two schools compete against each other and then two other schools also compete against each other.
"The whole school - you walk in and everyone's excited. You can't help but be pumped and excited and energized the whole day," according to Allen McAfee, Wade Hampton student body president.
Last year, in a combined effort Greenville High, Eastside High, Wade Hampton High and J. L. Mann High brought in over $870,000. Just a few groups who have benefitted from their efforts are Habitat for Humanity, Camp Spearhead, Safe Harbor, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and A Child's Haven.
Each school chooses their own fundraising project/s as the vessel to pull money in that week. Greenville typically chooses several local charities and divides the money between them, J. L. Mann works to help the Susan G. Komen for the Cure (cancer research), Eastside generally works for disease foundations, Wade Hampton always chooses a local charity. This year J. L. Mann chose the Komen/Cure foundation because of the athletic director's successful battle with cancer.
"I seriously doubt that there's many places in this United States where schools in one school district raise this kind of money," said Eastside adviser Jackie Weaver.
Here are just a few ideas they have used: 5k walk/run, a Haunted Hallway, silent auction, dress-up days, basketball tournament, a womanless pageant, teacher talent show, arm wrestling, bonfires, powder puff football, dodgeball, yard sales, mud wrestling, dances and performers.
A huge shout-out to all of the teenagers and workers from these four schools. This gives us just a glimpse of the power of teamwork. Positive energy spreads throughout everyone involves and opens the door for some landmark proceed reports!
If you want to learn more, visit Greenvilleonline.com and either send a donation to help or contact one of the schools to learn more about doing this in your own community. It sounds like it breeds some old-fashioned spirit, rather than hatred, which is a novelty in this day.
No matter what your differences may be, working together toward a worthy goal, will bring you the Ultimate Fundraising Success.
Sherie Smith, Editor
The Fundraising Designer
email: fundraisingdesigner@gmail.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/fundraisingdsnr
About Sherie Smith:
Sherie Smith shares insider secrets to achieve Ultimate Fundraising Success in her free 5-Part E-Course at: http://www.3hourstofundraisingsuccess.com She also has published a step-by-step copycat manual of the popular '$4,500in3hours' project, entitled, '3 Hours to Fundraising Success'.
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Posted by Sherie Smith at 10:23 AM Links to this post
Labels: cancer, charity, fighting, graffiti, habitat for humanity, high school, rivalry, school pride, success, susan g komen for the cure,