News from Frazee Dream Center

Wade Hampton Spirit Week

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"When I was on Student Council, we just planned dances!" was Jenny Reeves' comment as she watched the flurry of fund-raising activity in the Wade Hampton High School cafeteria. During Wade Hampton's Spirit Week, Jenny and Matt Reeves watched an intense group of WHHS Student Council members lead their fellow students and the entire school community in planning and carrying out dozens of events from hot dog dinners to bake sales to talent shows. Matt and Jenny saw teachers give up planning periods to watch "the jail." They spoke to the mother of a senior who shed tears as she talked about the positive impact Spirit Week has had on the lives of her sons. They celebrated with a Frazee student as the student crossed the finish line of the relay race, grinning from ear to ear, enjoying the cheers of the yelling, whooping Wade Hampton students. Then, at the end of the week, they watched in stunned disbelief as a check for $205,623.76, made out to the Frazee Dream Center, was unveiled during halftime of the Wade Hampton football game.

Spirit Week brings huge challenges, but the Frazee staff heard from numerous parents and school personnel about the life changing impact of Spirit Week on their own lives when they were high school students. Because they know first hand the greater good this week brings, they overlooked the schedule disruptions. Students talked about how Spirit Week helps them "get out of themselves" and focus on making a difference in the life of someone else. And what a difference they will make.

The money raised by the Wade Hampton students will provide a daily meal for each Frazee student for a year. It will provide uniforms, shoes and tournament fees for the Frazee wrestling team. It will pay for the mortgage, the power bill and the water--for a year. It will provide money to renovate a larger preschool area. It will make a huge difference in the lives of the 110 children who are supported and loved by the staff and volunteers at the Frazee Dream Center.

A special thank you to the Wade Hampton family: Principal Lance Radford, Student Council advisor Sandra Brooks, Student Council president James Allen, the Student Council members, all the students and their parents, as well as the children at the feeder elementary and middle schools.

Student Council president James Allen said, "We chose the Frazee Center because we didn't want our donation to be a drop in the bucket; we wanted it to BE the bucket." Wade Hampton family, you indeed are our bucket. Thank you for making it overflow.