Pay It Forward Projects
Our Bulldogs Love to Pay It Forward!
Pay It Forward Project
Fort Mill, SC 2018 – The Fort Mill High School Band, https://www.fortmillhsband.com/, is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser on September 20 to November 21, 2018 to raise funds for the Band’s trip to the Harrogate Music Festival in England in April 2019. Fort Mill is proud to be one of the select bands from around the world invited to perform. The Fort Mill Band will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, in collaboration with an organization called Funds2Orgs. Those dollars will be used to ship instruments and uniforms to England for the festival. Anyone can help by donating any type of gently worn, used and new shoes at
· Gold Hill Middle School, 1025 Dave Gibson Blvd, Tega Cay
· Fort Mill High School Front Office, 215 N U.S. 21 Bypass, Fort Mill
All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout Funds2Orgs’ network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.
"We are excited about our shoe drive," said Susan Certo, President of the Band’s Booster Club. "We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate. By doing so, we raise money for the Fort Mill Band, and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It's a win-win for everyone.”
By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to the Fort Mill High School Marching Band Shoe Drive, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world.
About the Fort Mill High School Band
The Fort Mill Band has been a source of pride in our community for more than 60 years. Whether performing at a home football game, competing in a professional stadium, or marching in a world-famous parade before thousands of spectators, we are committed to excellence in music, marching, and personal conduct. We build our program on seven core values – selflessness, integrity, respect, peace, loyalty, unity, maturity – and believe this value system helps shape our students into strong leaders for tomorrow
More than 200 students perform in multiple ensembles: marching band, wind symphony, symphonic band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and color and winter guard.
Contact
Jennifer Jameson, Shoe Drive Chairperson
Fort Mill High School Marching Band Booster Club
Email: bandstore@fortmillhsband.com
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! For the past 4 years, Coach Gesell has walked in the Avon 39 mile walk in New York. However, the Avon Foundation has since disbanded the 39 mile walks and are now promoting 5 mile walks across the country. As one who is always looking for a new challenge, Coach Gesell has now chosen to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3 day 60 mile walk in Atlanta, Georgia during the weekend of October 12-14. During the month of October, Gold Hill Middle is sponsoring fundraising events for those interested in donating to this cause and in supporting Coach Gesell as our GHMS representative!
Families may also access the link to Coach Gesell's Susan G. Komen Fundraiser page to make a donation!
GHMS and BBEL All Bulldogs BELONG
About BBEL Academy
Steven Muyimbwa of Kampala, Uganda, saw a need for a school in the rural village of Mityana just outside the capital city. He officially opened BBEL Academy in 2014 and continues to educate more students each year. Many of the students had no school to go to because of its rural location and many students, as they get older, need to work to help support their families. The school currently goes through 7th grade, but they have dreams to add on and continue educating at the secondary level.
“Belong” Campaign
When GHMS students saw what a success our Spring 2016 pencil drive was they thought they could do more. In the fall of 2016 and again in 2017, students and staff collected approximately $11,000 which was used for GHMS and BBEL students and staff t-shirts, over 70 day student tuitions, 11 boarding student tuitions, 10 months of teacher salary, an additional bathroom, and opening funds for a bank account and official school registration fees. BBEL Academy has since been inspired to purchase 10 acres of land, and they have begun to build their permanent home! This year we hope to be able to provide more boarding student tuitions and funds for a school van.
For information on how you can get involved in this Pay It Forward project, please contact Angie Harms at harmsa@fortmillschools.org.