Academy Takes Healthier Option For Fundraising Event

By Libby Hopkins

Oftentimes school fundraisers consist of candy, cookie dough, toys and wrapping paper. Olive oil, vinegar, and organic coconut and honey detoxing body scrub usually don’t come to mind, nor are they common school fundraising items. Literacy Leadership Technology (LLT) Academy, along with For a Cause and Faces of Courage, are working together to offer healthier fundraising options to students and their families all while giving back to local charities.

LLT Academy started its Ambassador Program a few years ago as a way of teaching its students to give back to the community. “Our ambassador program supports several charities through fundraising with all of our students and staff,” said Lesley Logan, the academy’s principal. “A big part of our program at LLT Academy is leadership and character development. I believe strongly that in order to be a leader in our community, we need to give back to the community and I want our students to understand this philosophy.”

The academy is currently raising money for their Relay for Life event which will be held at the end of March. It partnered with For a Cause to use its healthy and organic products to sell instead of candy or cookie dough. The company donates 10 percent of each sale plus $1 of each item sold to Faces of Courage. “Our philosophy is simple. We offer healthy products that are good for you and others,” said Dino Korovessis of For a Cause.

Faces of Courage is a non-profit organization that is located in Tampa which offers free camps and events for women and children with cancer and blood illnesses. Peggie Sherry is the organization’s director and she is thrilled over this partnership. “This is a win-win event,” Sherry said. “The students are raising money for cancer research while selling a high quality product that is good for their families and a donation is going to our camps.”

Logan hopes that more schools in the area will be inspired by LLT Academy and offer healthier fundraising options. Logan said. To learn more about the fundraising products offered by For a Cause, visit www.foracause.us. To learn more about the camps offered at Faces of Courage, visit facesofcourage.org. To learn more about the academy, visit www.lltacademy.com.