The Battle for the Paddle spirit event has many components to earn points for the overall score, one of the main ones being the fundraiser. The goal this year is to raise 50,000 dollars. The teachers agree to crazy dares, and the amount raised plays a big part in the fundraising part of the competition, but this money is being raised for good causes and will be donated.
The money raised this year will go to the Lions Club backpack program and the Lakeland Strong program.
The Lions Club backpack program is a program where they send home food to children who are in need. The Lions Club’s mission is to fight hunger and increase learning potential. Every 238 dollars is enough money to send a child home every weekend for the entire school year. If LHS reaches our goal of 50,000 dollars, then that would be a little over 210 children getting meals for an entire school year’s worth of weekends.
During the week leading up to Battle for the Paddle, LHS does a lot of fundraising for these purposes. There is a raffle for various prizes, including Airpods, an iPad, a Blackstone Grill, a mini fridge and a family photo package. The raffle tickets are 10 dollars each.
Some of the other fundraisers include extended lunch passes that are 10 dollars a day, a penny drive, bingo night and even a ski trip. The ski trip is on a later date and is 55 dollars. There is an alumni basketball game the week of the event as well, and the money earned there will go to the fundraiser for Battle for the Paddle.
As expected, the money for the ticket sales is another way to earn money to reach the fundraising goal. The tickets alone are 10 dollars, and a spirit pack, which includes the ticket, a shirt, sunglasses and a rally towel is 25 dollars.
The Lions Club’s Mission statement is to “Feed body and brain and watch them grow! We aim to fight hunger and increase learning potential in school-age children identified as in need. By bringing community partners and resources together, we provide supplemental weekend nutrition throughout the school year.”
Not only are all of these a great way to raise money, but also a great way for students to be more involved not only with the school but with the community.
Our donation to the Lions Club and the Lakeland Strong Foundation means a lot to the families in need and the community around us. Students get to have a fun week filled with activities, as well as being rewarded with the satisfaction of giving back.