Holiday Fundraisers Support School Initiatives & Spread Cheer

Before students and teachers depart for the holiday break, many schools in the district are raising money and spreading holiday cheer through various fundraisers.

This year, on behalf of Beecher Hills Elementary, the Beecher Hills Foundation, Inc. sold trees in Southwest Atlanta. The newly formed Beecher Hills Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit fundraising organization supporting the school’s commitment of providing teaching and learning that is authentic and differentiated, through a rigorous global curriculum.

“The foundation also encourages learning in an environment that fosters self-respect, respect for others, a love of learning and a commitment to serve society,” explained Melody Blount, President of the foundation.

With help from the community, the tree sale will help Beecher Hills continue to be one of two International Baccalaureate schools in Southwest Atlanta. Funds from the sale will also help implement a S.T.E.A.M program at Beecher Hills that will include interactive technology, a science lab, robotics team resources and environmental/ecology science initiatives. 

The PTA at Fickett Elementary is participating in the Reindeer Lane Gift Shop this year. Students can shop on www.reindeerland.com for gifts for their friends and family. Through this initiative, in addition to the school receiving a portion of the proceeds, students also learn to budget money and make financially sound purchase decisions.  Gift items range from $0.25 to $15.00.

Inman Middle School and E. Rivers Elementary also held tree sales this season. E. Rivers has participated in the tree sale fundraiser for 12 years. All proceeds benefit the students by helping fund technological and other curricular enhancements, as well as valuable cultural arts programs.

Inman Middle, in conjunction with Barefoot Mountain Farms, also held a tree sell to help benefit the school. Hal & Tina Hollcroft, owners of Barefoot Mountain Farms, have been an Inman fundraising partner for 14 years. Their love of farming and support of children in education has been the driving force behind the business.

“Their Fraser Fir trees are grown with care in Laurel Springs, NC in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” explained Mary Stouffer, Inman’s PTA VP/Fundraising. ”This season will be in honor of Hal who lost his battle with cancer on February 2, 2012.”