- Duplin County Schools
- Superintendent's Points of Pride
Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee Raises over $15,000 for the Make-A-Wish® Foundation
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SAC Raises $15,187.02, enough to fund 2 Wishes through the
Eastern NC Make-A-Wish® Foundation!
“During one of our meetings, all of the members were talking and we decided we really wanted to do something for someone else. We wanted to do something that would make a difference in our community. We decided to call our efforts ‘Giving Back to Our Community,’” explained SAC President and Wallace-Rose Hill High School Senior Miranda Basden. “We discussed several ideas of possible fundraisers and we also discussed what cause we wanted to support this year. We voted and unanimously decided to hold student/faculty basketball games to raise money for the Make-A-Wish® Foundation. Our original goal was to raise 500 to 1,000 dollars, and we are proud that we far exceeded that goal.”
Basden spoke on behalf of the committee, most of whom were in attendance as she presented a check to the President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Eastern North Carolina Kristen Johnson and Corporate Relations Manager Luanne Lane.
Before the check presentation, Basden told the Board and the audience that the entire process had been a journey and that she felt proud of the committee’s accomplishments. She said the basketball games, one sponsored by each school with all of the combined proceeds going to Make-A-Wish,® were lots of fun for teachers and students of all ages. Several other committee members also shared their thoughts during the meeting.
“It was amazing,” exclaimed committee member and James Kenan High School Senior Diego Benitez. “We thought of a goal of five hundred or one thousand (dollars) and when Dr. Obasohan said what we had earned, I couldn’t believe it! This shows that our community is willing to do anything for anybody. I want to thank everyone for making our country, county, and state a better place and a better society to live in.”
East Duplin High School Sophomore and committee member Ashton Ballard also shared her sentiments about the SAC’s efforts. “It has been awesome seeing everyone work together, seeing how much fun we had with it, and how blown away we were when we found out how much we raised. I think Duplin County has made an impact on the schools, the students’ lives, and anybody who has heard our story and why we did this. I’m very honored to be a part of this and it’s just been awesome to see what a group of students can do when we put our minds and hearts into something.”
Basden thanked everyone involved with the project saying, “I want to thank the Board of Education for letting us be here tonight and for supporting our program. Most of all, we would like to thank Dr. Obasohan for allowing students’ voices from across the county to be heard and for always supporting our ideas. This was our idea and he helped us through our trials and errors every step of the way.” She thanked representatives from Make-A-Wish® for their guidance and also expressed the committee’s appreciation to students, principals, and staff for everything they did to contribute to the success of the project.
After presenting President and CEO of Eastern NC Make-A-Wish® Kristen Johnson and Corporate Relations Manager Luanne Lane with the check, Basden asked Charity Middle School Principal Janice Wynn and student representative Evelyn Thompson to join her at the podium.
“We have another award to present. A trophy and plaque will be given to the school that raised the most money this year. The plaque will stay at the winning school forever and the winner every year will be listed on this wall behind me. Each year, schools will compete to win the ‘Giving Back to our Community’ award. This trophy; however,” explained Basden as she unveiled the winner’s cup, “will be presented to the school that earns the most money in support of our collective efforts. The trophy will remain at that school until the next year’s fundraiser and will only stay if that school can raise the most money. On behalf of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, I am proud to announce that the winner of this year’s Giving Back to Our Community Award is Charity Middle School.”
Johnson, Lane, Basden, and Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan congratulated Wynn and Thompson and Johnson addressed the crowd. “It is our honor to be here today. I am humbled by all you have said and to hear what you have accomplished. To have young people support our mission is just truly the best thing ever. You will be able to grant two wishes here in the local area and we could not be more grateful for that. It’s amazing to see young people giving back and I hope you will take the lessons you’ve learned and continue to give back to those around you.”
Lane echoed her remarks and commendations for the students saying, “Thank you guys so much for what you’ve done. You have really set the bar for other counties. As a mom, I can only hope that one day my little boy wants to do great things like you are doing.”
Johnson and Lane then asked Dr. Obasohan to come forward and receive a special plaque. “As the leader of this hard-working group of students, thank you so much for what you have done and for setting such a great example for these young students.”
Dr. Obasohan graciously accepted the plaque and presented it to Basden saying, “It was the students who did all of the work.”
Duplin County Board of Education Chairman Brent Davis shared with the students the sense of pride the Board and others throughout the county feel due to the “Giving Back to Our Community” fundraising efforts. “I want to say, on behalf of the entire Board how proud we are of the student advisory members and staff who participated to make this happen. We are really proud of the work that was put into this and we hope next year it can be just as successful.”
Later Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan was still beaming with joy for the students and their accomplishments. “These students have done something amazing. It shows what can happen when you dream. I am so proud of them for coming up with this idea. They worked on it, refined it, and pushed it into fruition. It is because of them and all who supported them that two families, two children with life-threatening illnesses, can for even just one day forget their medical burdens and enjoy a day they have always dreamed of. The Student Advisory Committee’s ‘Giving Back to Our Community’ efforts this year will have an impact that will reach beyond these two wishes. Our students will always remember what it feels like to give, to show compassion for others. They will continue to unite, protect, give back to, and enlarge this wonderful community.”
Perhaps Duplin Early College High School Senior and committee member David Poloma summed it up best when he shared his personal story with the audience. “My cousin passed away a couple of years ago and every night when I go to sleep I prayed, ‘God, please let me do something that will give back to the community and let it affect kids that have been in the same spot as my cousin.’ God answered my prayers, and I’m very thankful for everybody who let this dream come true…this prayer be answered.”
** The Make-A-Wish® Foundation grants a wish to a child with a
life-threatening medical condition every 35 minutes. Each wish costs approximately $7,500. President and CEO of Eastern NC Make-A-Wish®
Kristen Johnson notes that each year her division grants two hundred wishes and
raises over three million dollars. If
you are interested in volunteering for the foundation, please email volunteers@eastnc.wish.org or call
1-800-432-WISH (9474).