History of GISD District-Wide March of Dimes Campaigns
In 2004, district March of Dimes coordinator Eva Hummel gasped when she heard the fundraising goal that district superintendent Dr. Curtis Culwell set - $50,000.00. While she knew that the students and staff of Garland ISD supported the annual March of Dimes effort and would work diligently to meet the goal, could they really reach such a lofty monetary sum? She needn’t have worried. Not only did Team GISD rise to the challenge; they surpassed it, raising in excess of $59,000.00.
The following year, Dr. Culwell upped the ante to $75,000.00. Again, district volunteers bested the goal, raising more than $84,000.00. Much like a football team smashing through a paper banner on their way to victory, the March of Dimes fundraising team makes easy work of smashing through fundraising goals, leading up to the 2007 total of $144,000.00, earning the district bragging rights as the Top Educational Fundraiser in the United States – topping the fundraising efforts of not only fellow K-12 school districts, but colleges and universities as well.
What’s the motivation? In a word, FAMILY.
While Garland ISD is one of the largest school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you hear over and over how GISD is like a big “family.” The three cities that comprise the district - Garland, Rowlett and Sachse, are all family-oriented communities. The “business” of a school district is by nature, kids. Since the centerpiece of the March of Dimes campaign is saving babies, the charity is a natural “fit” for the volunteer spirit within the school district and community.
Before Dr. Culwell returned to Garland as Superintendent, students in the high schools were already involved with the March of Dimes. Garland High School had been recognized as a top fundraiser nationwide. Curtis and his wife Gayle brought their own commitment to the organization, as their twin daughters had been born prematurely some 20 years earlier. Knowing the March of Dimes played a role in helping their daughters become a pair of happy, healthy infants (and subsequently healthy adults as well), inspired them to “give back” by using their role as community leaders to further the cause. During his first year as Superintendent of Garland ISD, Dr. Culwell served as chairman of the North Texas area March of Dimes campaign.
As chairman of the 2002 North Texas campaign, knowing Ms. Hummel’s involvement at the high school level, he asked her to lead the district fundraising efforts. And as they say, “the rest is history.” In fact, at the Dallas leadership kick-off breakfast for the 2007 WalkAmerica campaign, the district was honored as the #4 fundraiser in the area! The students, families and staff of Garland ISD raised more money overall than large local companies such as Macy’s department stores, FedEx, and various financial institutions.
Over the years, the ideas generated at the individual GISD schools and administrative facilities have continued to grow and evolve. Many schools held mini-walkathons so the younger students could get a taste of the volunteer spirit. Youngsters at one school decorated flowerpots that were sold in a silent auction to parents with proceeds donated to the March of Dimes. Workers in the Transportation Department planned “Dollar Dog Days,” offering a hot dog lunch to fellow transportation workers and staff in nearby administrative offices. Families with secondary students pooled their talents to produce spaghetti dinners and similar events. Soon, staff in the administrative buildings jumped in with both feet, offering “Taters for Tots” baked potato lunches, homemade breakfast taco sales, “Burgers for Babies” lunches, raffles, and chair massages to raise funds for the cause.
The 2007 campaign year marked the first year for the district to make a splash in the local community. A barbecue fundraiser had been held the previous year with modest success at the (then) new Special Events Center, and Eva wanted to expand on the idea. The concept for “The Great GISD BBQ Smackdown” was hatched, inviting the local mayors to challenge Dr. Culwell to a barbecue cook-off. Since the three cities in the district have a great deal of pride in their individual communities, it was a natural for the friendly rivalry of a cook-off. When the big day arrived, the SEC had taken on a carnival-like atmosphere, with tents set up on the grass for the barbecue chefs, tables and chairs set up under the Grand Entrance for guests to eat dinner prepared by the facility catering companies, a stage for musical and dance performances, and fun carnival rides for the kids!
At the end of the day, the eight barbecue chefs (including local mayors, mayor pro-tems, city managers, and department heads as well as Dr. Culwell and assistant superintendent John Washington) had not only had the opportunity to mix and mingle with their constituents, showing off their cooking skills with impromptu taste tests, but they had also helped to raise $4,000.00 for the March of Dimes campaign.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding. Happily dancing and giggling amongst the families present were several youngsters, themselves living proof of the value of the March of Dimes campaign. One special young lady, Demetria Washington, was born three months premature, weighing less than two pounds. Now age seven, she was especially proud to witness her doting “Papaw” and “Uncle Curtis” presented with the title of Grand Champions.
Every parent dreams of raising children who will be responsible adults. Every school district hopes to produce students who will proudly give back to the village helping to raise them. In Garland ISD, we are doing just that – raising young people who have the volunteer spirit and who care about families outside of their own.
Through the March of Dimes WalkAmerica campaign, our “village” is working to save babies – one dime at a time.