Million Dollar Dream Raises Money for Newark City Schools
When 82-year-old Joan Spillman dreamed she could raise $1 million to help students in Newark City Schools, her daughter Sandy Mercer chuckled at the idea. However, after giving the idea a second thought, Mercer saw a very feasible goal and began working hard to make the dream a reality.
Mobilizing a group of 12 women, Mercer created the Million Dollar Dream Committee, which focuses on reducing the K-12 school district's pay-to-participate fees for co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
“Many students simply can't afford to pay those fees,” Mercer says. “We wanted to make opportunities available to every child without finances being an issue.”
With a goal to collect $1,000 each from 1,000 people, the committee mailed more than 1,500 letters to local residents in April 2009. Less than four months later, they were able to collect more than $45,000 and donated all of it to the school district.
The funds donated reduced the pay-to-participate fees for the 2009-2010 school year from $200 to $165 for extracurricular activities and from $65 to $55 for co-curricular activities.
Back in January, when Spillman initially had her dream, the school district was experiencing budget cuts. Mercer said she feared athletics would be cut completely. After the committee was formed, more community members got involved, including several local businesses.
Chipotle Mexican Restaurant held a $5 burrito and drink night, raising $2,885 for the cause. Four other local restaurants – Donatos, McDonald’s, Texas Roadhouse and The Grill – came together to create Pay-to-Play Tuesdays, donating a percentage of their Tuesday sales to Million Dollar Dream.
“It's great that businesses feel a connection to the community and want to help these kids,” Mercer says.
The committee also collected pledges from local businesses to fund a free-throw challenge at Newark High School's boys' home basketball games. During halftime, a local celebrity attempts to shoot 25 free throws, with each successful shot worth $56.
So far, celebrity shooters have included Donatos founder Jim Grote and Newark High graduate and Texas Rangers' starting pitcher Derek Holland.
Currently in the works are plans to hold a fundraising golf tournament and to reach out to more celebrities about getting involved.
Mercer says the school district needs about $220,000 per year to completely eliminate the pay-to-participate fees.
“Our ultimate goal is still to raise $1 million to eliminate fees for the next four-plus years,” Mercer says.
For more information or to make a donation, visit the Million Dollar Dream Committee's Web site at www.newarkmdd.com.
“My mother is surprised her dream has been able to be accomplished,” Mercer says. “We laugh about that night (of the dream), but this is one of those things that was just meant to be.”
