The "Tornado" Campaign

Headquartered in Austin, Texas at the Trinity Episcopal School

$28,416 dollars in 1 totally awesome fundraiser!!

There are a few hundred wonderful students, some incredible teachers, a lot of very involved and supportive parents, and a new Headmaster Mort Dukehart who are well on their way to sponsoring a dog they named "Tornado"!  Some of you know Mr. Dukehart, he was the Headmaster at The Browne Academy in Alexandria, Virginia who lead his school in a CHAMPS Campaign that has just victoriously sponsored Brownie, you got it…their dog.

When Mort and his lovely wife Paula moved to Austin they vowed they were taking CHAMPS with them and sure enough, we heard from Mr. Dukehart shortly after school started this fall….he told us that there was one teacher in particular that loved CHAMPS, Patty Praytor, and other teachers at the Trinity Episcopal School there in Austin that loved the idea of raising money to sponsor a life saving Mine Detection Dog.  So their Campaign kicked-off soon after the CHAMPS Team left last November. A few months later, they are 1/2 of the way there to raising enough funds to sponsor a mine-sniffing dog!!!

Their first function was a Read-A-Thon on March 9th.  Every student in the school was involved.  The kids got their parents, friends, relative’s, anyone who would listen to them about what they were doing, to pledge to pay them a certain amount for every minute they read that day.  The school made sure they had recess, lunch, speech therapy or whatever “specials” a student might have, but 180 minutes that day was dedicated to Reading for Tornado. 

This e-mail came to me (Kimberly McCasland, CHAMPS Director) this evening.  It was from Patty Praytor, as you can see, and this is how they did in their “Read-A-Thon”.  It’s inspiring isn’t it??  They raised over $28,416 of their goal with one school-dedicated event!!  It’s never happened before and I just couldn’t resist sharing with all of you. 

Feel free to pass on your congratulations to Patty and her class of CHAMPS!!!

Their next fundraiser is scheduled for April 14th, it’s a “Dog Day’s of Spring Carnival”…they’ll have a “Dog Wash”, a “Dog Talent Show”, Baked goods, a “Doggie Parade” with dogs in costume and prizes for the most original, best dressed, most adorable…etc. 

These students and teachers were inspired by the stories I shared with them about all of you who have begun your campaigns with a bang, about all of you who’ve finished your Campaigns and  who’ve sponsored dogs, and in some cases are now continuing on with CHAMPS Victim Assistance Programs….they are joining your ranks and inspiring others. 

click here to read the new article written by Maxine featured on the Myhero.com website. She's a Trinity school CHAMP-ion!!