Big toys will help CIS raise money for graduation coaches
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 1, 2011 1:46 PM
Communities in Schools is hoping getting a chance to see some "big toys" will help raise funds for a program to encourage students to graduate from high school.
The organization will sponsor Big Toy Day from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday at the Wayne Executive Jetport, formerly Wayne County Airport. Admission is $5 and children under 5 are free, CIS Executive Director Sudie Davis said.
In addition to the typical festival fare of food, live entertainment and face painting, there will be a variety of large vehicles on display.
"We have had great support from the community," Mrs. Davis said. "We have several race cars, miniature race cars, tractors, a SWAT truck, all kinds of vehicles and big toys.
"We'll have Native American dancers at 11 and 2 and a Native American storyteller, Shriners mini rigs and a John boat, motorcycles, McGruff the crime dog and a helicopter."
This is the first time for the event, which is a fundraiser, Mrs. Davis said.
"The United Way has offered us a challenge grant, $15,000 for this year and $15,000 for next year, for our graduation coaches," she said. "This is an effort to try to raise some funds for that challenge grant."
There are also other activities going on simultaneously at the jetport that weekend.
"The Young Eagles Program will be doing free airplane rides for children, ages 8 to 17," Mrs. Davis said. "The Wayne Executive Jetport will have a Top Gun competition out there so there will be a lot of planes taking off out there, pilots coming in to do their recertification. And Wayne Community College will have two airplanes (on display) in front of their buildings."
The Top Gun Flight Competition Fly-In will feature a full day of seminars, vendors and food, as well as flight competitions in the areas of take-offs and landings, flight maneuvers and navigation.
The competition will run from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Young Eagles flights will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
For more information on the seminars and flight events, contact Tom Freeman, NCDOT Aviation, at tfreeman@ncdot.gov or 919-604-8867.
There is no admission charge to view the competition or the plane displays.