Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1027283
10 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 DRIVE FOR SCHOOLS L ast year, Amy Thomas died her hair purple and teal. It wasn't a matter of fash- ion or making a personal statement. She did it for the kids at her school. Thomas is the principal at Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, and is a staunch supporter of the school's fundraising efforts...especially Drive for Schools. "We're an art school," she said. "Hair grows back." Each year since she's be- come principal, Thomas has allowed her students to pick what they would do to her if they met their Drive for Schools fundraising goals. One year, they chose to put her in the seat of a dunk tank and sank her into the water. This year, the students have yet to decide what to do with her. But she doesn't mind. The fundraiser is the sin- gle-most important one for the charter school and many of the other schools across Santa Cruz County. A single ticket could be the one to win a new car or $25,000. Another Watsonville in- stitution, Mount Madonna School, has raised more than $114,000 in the past five years while participating in the fundraiser. "Mount Madonna is so ap- preciative of the commu- nity's support for Drive for Schools as an essential fun- draiser for our local and pri- vate schools," said Supriya McDonald, Head of School at Mount Madonna School. With 100 percent of the funds going right back to the schools, there are few reasons that schools should not participate. The money raised is used at the school's discretion with no specific parameters from organizers other than that it be used for the school. And programs have start- ed, expanded and stayed as a result. At Mount Madonna School, the money has gone to arts and athletics. "As one of our school's goals is to expand our co- curricular activities, Drive for Schools is an essential fundraiser that supports our growth," said Linda Manzur, coordinator of the fundrais- ing program at the school. Watsonville Charter School of the Arts is one of the top fundraising schools, raising just over $26,900 last year alone. Nearly half of that goes to a trip for the middle school students at the school. The rest is allocated to the after-school programs, the winter production and sup- plies for teachers. "We give the teachers things that they need," Thomas said. Though the funding is a key part of the program, Thomas and other school of- ficials have said the planning of the fundraiser is what makes it easy for schools. Most schools don't have the time and resources to create an annual fundraiser on such a large scale so they are thankful for the partnership. "If we were in charge of printing the tickets, making the booklets and sorting in the end, it would be a huge undertaking for the school," Thomas said. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TEACHING US HOW IT'S DONE BY CALVIN MEN