BY JENNIFER HARRIS
THE DAILY NEWS
 Bogalusa Junior High School's Louis Adams and Alva Martin, pictured above from left, headed up the school's campaign this year for the United Way. The duo has raised over $1,000 for local agencies supported by United Way all four years the school has been involved in the campaign. This year they helped raise $1,256. Although the figure was $105 less than Bogalusa High School's $1,361 total, BJHS was named first place winner because they have a smaller staff than the high school. Advertisement |
Although their total figure was $105 less than Bogalusa High School's $1,361, United Way Executive Director Mary Ann Leonard said the agency determines the winning school by calculating the total funds collected on a per capita scale. "Even though Bogalusa High School raised more money they have a larger staff," she explained. "So Bogalusa Junior High School is the winner."
Heading up the effort for BJHS since the local United Way office started their school campaigns four years ago was BJHS Administrative Assistant Lois Adams with the help of Principal Alva Martin.
Leonard said this is the fourth year in a row the school raised over $1,000 for United Way agencies. "We did almost 100 percent participation this year," Adams said. "There was just a handful that didn't donate."
Other schools and businesses interested in the key to Adams' success need only ask her once. "I would say I am a persistent person," she said. "I tell them about the cause and that it's a worthy cause and I don't stop asking (the teachers and staff) until I get a donation."
Adams said incentive prizes are also offered by the United Way to the schools, and by teachers and staff donating a little of their own money the school and ultimately the students benefit. Leonard said each school raising over $500 is presented approximately 10 percent of their total collected funds for their medial department or library.
Martin praised those who donated. "It takes a person with compassion (to donate their money)," she said. "My teachers really exemplify that."
Hard Workers
But Leonard said she knows it takes more than generous teachers to raise money. "This is the fourth year that (Adams and Martin have raised) over $1,000 and I think it is just wonderful the dedication we have from these two ladies," she said. "No later do we deliver the packets than they start working for us. They are just very, very strong supporters and I appreciate them so much."
Leonard said she believed that if the United Way had the kind of support Adams and Martin give from all the schools the total campaign figures could easily be doubled. "We need this kind of support from every principal and every school coordinator and we'd do easily $10,000 or $15,000 in the Bogalusa Schools alone," she noted.
All total, $5,711 was collected by Bogalusa schools participating in the fundraising effort. Behind BJHS and BHS was Pleasant Hill Elementary School with $897. Leonard said the school's total was pushed up to nearly $900 by one anonymous teacher's generous contribution of over $600. "She gives a good gift every year," Leonard said.
In addition, the Bogalusa City School System School Board Office donated $709, and contributions from other Bogalusa schools totaled $1,488.
Parish Campaign
Leonard said this is just the beginning of the United Way's 2005 Campaign and that schools in the Washington Parish System will be turning in their figures at the end of this month. The official kick-off in Franklinton will be today at noon at the Franklinton Rotary Club meeting at Centenary United Methodist Church. Speaker for the event will be David Doss of Congressman David Vitter's Office.
Tuesday is the Bogalusa kick-off, also during the Rotary Meeting at Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial Methodist Church. Leonard said all high school boy's basketball teams will be invited to the meeting to hear NBA Hall of Fame Center Willis Reed, vice-president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Hornets, who will be the keynote speaker for the event.
UW Agencies
Agencies supported by the United Way locally include American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Cancer Association, Council on Aging, Bogalusa Head Start, Franklinton Head Start, Literacy Council, Seven Acres Substance Abuse Center, Nellie Byers Training Center, YMCA, YWCA, Bogalusa Toy Fund, Camp Fire, CARE Ministries, Habitat, Happy Trails Therapy Center, Salvation Army, Youth Services Bureau, Southeast Spouse Abuse Center, Bogalusa Help Center, and Washington Parish Activities Center.
Leonard encourages everyone in the parish to consider donating to the United Way to help them reach their $250,000 goal. "If we got $1 a week from every working person in the parish we would have half a million dollars that stays in Washington Parish and that would be that many more people that we can help," Leonard said.
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