CIS plans annual spring fundraiser
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 16, 2015 1:46 PM
Communities in Schools hopes to become even more involved in helping students succeed in school and to encourage them to go on to graduate from high school.
And organizers are hoping a fundraiser next week will bring in the necessary funds to help make those goals a reality.
Over the years, the program has grown beyond sending in school supplies and arranging field trips to colleges to providing support staff -- starting with graduation coaches at the high school level and three years ago, revamping the program to have success coaches.
"We have staff members in six schools, two high schools and four middle schools, and they work with students at risk for not finishing their high school education," said Selena Bennett, executive director of Communities in Schools. "We are also trying to expand next year into at least one elementary school."
Doing such, though, takes money, prompting Mrs. Bennett to get creative.
"We cannot depend solely on grants," she said. "We have to be proactive, finding funds if a grant dries up or is not renewed.
"We have to have something to fall back on which is why we're having fundraisers."
It costs $172 to provide services for one Communities in Schools student for an entire year, she said, which breaks down to $3 a week.
But the dividends are worth it, she said.
"For every dollar that's invested in CIS, it creates $11.60 of economic benefit for the community," she said. "So if you're donating to Communities in Schools of Wayne County you're not just investing in the future of that particular student but in the future of the entire community."
The local program has produced some impressive results. It is research-based, Mrs. Bennett said, and the state model has proven to be effective.
"Last year, 95 percent of the seniors that we worked with graduated and 95 percent of the students that we monitored were promoted," she said.
This is the third year for the success coach program, started in 2012-2013, and the goal is to extend it even further.
"Our effort is to continue to move down into the elementary schools because early intervention is where it's at and if we can move into t he elementary school and then link what we already have in the middle and high schools,we can hit it arly on following through with those grades," she said.
"United Way has a new initiative, spearheading early literacy, early childhood development. We have submitted a request for an elementary position."
To further support the efforts, CIS is holding its biggest fundraiser of the year, "Have a Heart for Kids" later this month. This will actually be the third year for the event, which has undergone a name and location change.
"The first one we called it 'Have a Heart for Kids' but had it at Bethel Church. Last year we moved it to Judith (McMillen's) home," she said. "This is the second year it's been hosted by Glenn Barwick and Judith McMillen."
"Sparkles and Spirits" will be held Friday, April 24, from 6-8 p.m. at 201 N. George St.
The evening of food, fellowship and entertainment is a chance to build up support for the student programs at CIS. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit two of the biggest programs, the success coaches and Teen Court, a program for first-time juvenile offenders, misdemeanor crimes only, to prevent students from getting caught up in the court system.
Communities in Schools is reliant on its partnerships, which include the DA's office, the Sheriff's Office, the school system and area businesses, but also individuals and residents.
"When the community supports us, we're helping to improve the lives of children," Mrs. Bennett said.
Tickets for the gala are $30 a person, $60 per couple. They can be ordered through the mail or purchased online, paid via PayPal.
For more information about the event, email sbennett@ciswayne.org. Checks can also be mailed to CIS, 308 N. William St., Goldsboro, NC 27530.