Change can be a great thing. At Billy Earl Dade Middle Learning Center in Dallas, Texas, we found that with the right reason, change can happen quickly and positively. We were very excited to have the Dallas Independent School District selected to host a kick-off event for the Change Our World campaign. We decided to have the event at Billy E. Dade Middle Learning Center, a middle school with about 450 students in grades sixth through eighth. We were ecstatic to make our donation of $310.25, which we know will help make a real difference.
We started the Change Our World event on Thursday, February 28, 2008, by showing the "Change Our World" digital video during lunch period. I was amazed that instead of talking louder and drowning out the video, which often happens when large groups of students are brought together, the students not only watched it, but were drawn into it. This is when I knew our Change Our World event was going to be a success.
At Billy E. Dade Middle Learning Center the students wear uniforms, so our plan on Friday was to have a "Jeans Day" where students, teachers and administrators could wear jeans for a donation to the Global Child Nutrition Foundation.
The people who donated to the foundation also got their names placed on a paper donation "coin" which was hung on the wall. The posters, danglers and the donation coins are still hanging up in our school, reminding the students how they were able to make a difference.
It really touched me that we were able to raise the money we did. Many of the students who attend Billy E. Dade do not have a lot of extra to give, but they saw that the GCNF is a good cause. I think they were able to relate with the children the GCNF is helping. For some students, the meal they receive at school is their only real meal for the day. That is why the GCNF and the "Change Our World" digital video really touched home.
We couldn't have accomplished what we did without the support of David Welch, the principal at Billy E. Dade Middle Learning Center. He gave us the opportunity to make a difference in our world.
At Billy E. Dade we hope others will see our $310.25 donation and realize it doesn't matter how big your school is or how large your donation is. Each donation brings the GCNF a step closer to achieving its goals.
