Battle For The Babies Raises $1,700 For March Of Dimes

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Prompted by a $10,000 local radio challenge to create the best school community event to give back to young people, North Springs Charter High School’s Future Business Leaders of America club marched into action. These students created, planned and executed the March for Change/Battle for the Babies – their largest fundraising venture ever –to benefit the Atlanta/Central Georgia March of Dimes.

When it was over and expenses accounted for, the FBLA officer team proudly presented a check for $1,700 to Erika Perry, senior development manager for the Atlanta March of Dimes.

“Your donation will help fund research to understand why too many babies are born too early in Georgia,” she said. “You have made a difference and we thank you all.”

Held on Friday, Sept. 22, the March for Change fundraiser included more than 1,000 North Springs Spartans who had purchased a $1 ticket to march around the athletic field during the last class of the day, and for an additional dollar participate in the largest Battle for the Babies water balloon fight in school history (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

"I was truly impressed by our March of Dimes' team ability to conceptualize, plan and execute such a large undertaking in such a short window of time,” said FBLA sponsor Brian Patterson. “Putting together an event of this magnitude required true yeoman effort and many student volunteers.

"Behind the scenes, the kids solicited 64 metro Kroger and Publix stores for food/monetary donations, presented at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon the day after the hurricane, and filled 1100 helium balloons and 6000 water balloons the day of the event. After the event ended, the student volunteers cleaned the football field, bleachers, and concession stand before the 5:30 p.m. football game. It definitely took a village.”

According to FBLA officer Anthony Bi who helped coordinate the event as the club’s president of community service projects, “we wanted to create an event that would excite, educate, and earn money for a worthy cause."

It was definitely worth it and I hope this turns into an annual event that can help the March of Dimes continue to fight for babies who can't fight for themselves," Bi added.

With more than 200 members, North Springs award-winning FBLA chapter is the school’s largest organization. In 2017, the chapter received its third consecutive Superior Chapter of the Year award and is proud to have 11 students as 2017 National FBLA Finalists and 7 winning Top 10 in the USA.

Photo 1: Dressed in purple to support and promote their March for Change/March of Dimes event, are FBLA officers and event team members including seated front: Anthony Bi, president of the club's community service projects - who was helped in leading the effort by to his left, Zandia Washington and Desia Felix.

Photo 2: FBLA officers and team members present their check for $1700 to March of Dimes senior development officer Erika Perry (center) along with from left Principal Scott Hanson, FBLA Advisor Sallie Holloway and far right FBLA Advisor Brian Patterson.

Photo 3: FBLA Advisor Brian Patterson, March of Dimes' Erika Perry and FBLA Advisor Sallie Holloway are proud to show off the check representing the donation made to March of Dimes on behalf of North Springs' FBLA students and hundreds of Spartans.

Photo credits: North Springs Charter High School