Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign Yields Record Result
10/7/2014 12:00:00 AM
The giving spirit of Liberty Flames' student athletes was once again represented in the recently completed "Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign". The drive began four years ago when Kristie Beitz, Liberty's Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academic Affairs, was shopping in the local Target for school supplies to hand out to the Lynchburg city schools. A former football player bumped into Beitz and asked why she had all the school supplies. Beitz informed the player of her intentions and the athlete graciously handed over $20 to buy more items. Beitz accepted and told the football player to go back to his team and challenge the team to give $1 each, thus starting the "Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign".
Liberty Athletics Student-Athlete Development Coordinator Morgaine Godwin and the rest of the Academic Affairs for Athletics Staff have helped coordinate the drive every year for the last four years. This year, the results were record breaking, collecting a total of $8,366 and nearly doubling last year's result of $4,524.
Each year the campaign has grown from the first year of raising $2,700 to collecting over $8,000 this year. The student-athletes have in fact made a competition out of the campaign. Each team takes on the challenge of who can raise the most money by the end of the campaign. The winning team receives the Golden Ruler, a very measurable award to obtain.
This year's winner was the cheerleading squad. The cheerleaders raised over $2,000 alone, doubling last year's winning total of $1,105. The cheerleading squad made their own campaign called "Tucks for Bucks" in which they would do all sorts of flips for $1.
"Winning the Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign and the Golden Ruler Award is a major achievement for our program because it reflects one aspect of our mission statement, which is to have the cheerleaders serve as ambassadors for Christ within the greater Lynchburg community" said Liberty Cheerleading Head Coach Jordan Ballard. "The cheerleaders worked hard to raise money during the campaign because they understand that their efforts will be a blessing to those who are less-privileged and who may not know Christ. We just want the community to experience the love and provision of God through the servants of Christ here at Liberty University."
Student-athletes could be seen around campus at convocation and various athletic events as well as university events, trying to collect money to help provide the local schools with much needed supplies. Student-athletes also volunteer in the Lynchburg City School System; so that they can get to know the children and staff better to build relationships and touch lives.
All the money raised was used to purchase various school supplies such as folders, backpacks, pens, crayons, markers, glue sticks, notebooks, and other needed supplies. Additionally, backpacks full of supplies will be distributed to a number of deserving students. The supplies will be distributed to several area schools.
Godwin credits the success of the drive and the excitement exuded by student-athletes and staff to the heart and vision of Beitz. "Our Athletic Department intends to be one that gives back to the local community and Ms. Beitz has charged us with the concept of ‘paying it forward' and our student-athletes spend hundreds of hours a semester volunteering in the Lynchburg City School System trying to make a difference in the lives of others." In regards to the student-athletes, "we are equally as proud of our athletes' accomplishments off the field as well as on the field."
