Selling votes and counting pennies for United Way

When it came time to raise money for the United Way of Southeast Missouri, Central High School students asked themselves this question: What would Andrew Jackson do?

He would, the students decided, change their arch rival's mascot from the Indians to the Jackson Red Hawks.

This well-intentioned humor, printed on T-shirts that are a tradition before the annual Cape Girardeau-Jackson high school football game, earned Central students $1,115 and the added of bonus of insulting their nearest opponents.

The football game T-shirt sales are just one way that students at Central and other schools in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City are raising money for the United Way of Southeast Missouri this year.

Every year, the three school districts compete to see who can raise the most funds for the organization. The contest brings out students' creativity.

"It's a good thing for the community, and it's an awesome thing for the kids. They have fun with it," said Kathy Wright, a Central teacher who organized the student fund raiser for United Way.

The teachers and students at Central High School together raised about $5,000 through a variety of activities. Students were allowed to purchase strips of duct tape to tape athletic director Darrick Smith to a wall in the gymnasium.

They also "bought" votes for the presidential election, donating $1 to vote for either George W. Bush or John Kerry. All of the proceeds from the activities go to the United Way.

This year's fund-raising activities lasted through September, and the winners of the competition will be announced at the Cape Girardeau-Jackson football game Friday. While the districtwide totals have not yet been tallied, individual schools are showing significant increases over previous years' donations.

Students at Blanchard Elementary raised $500 more this year than in 2003-2004 with their fund raiser, which pitted classes against each other in a coin drive.

Every classroom was given a milk jug to collect pennies, nickels and other change, and the class with the highest amount received a pizza party, "sneak recess" and a movie. The drive brought in more than $1,500.

"The kids are so into it," said Gail Lowrance, who helped organized the drive at Blanchard.

South Elementary in Jackson had one of the largest contributions this year, a total of $4,500.

"There were a lot of innovative things going on," said Dr. Sam Duncan, a Jackson administrator who oversaw the district's fund raising.

"United Way is an organization in our area that is extremely active. They help a host of worthy groups, and a lot of our folks have had experiences with United Way," Duncan said.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128