'Robin Hood 2007' Exceeds Improbable Goal

Nearly $60,000 Is Raised In One Week To Build a Girls' School in Afghanistan

12/28/2007

Chattanooga, Tennesee -- "Incredible" and "inspiring" are words that can only partly describe the improbable that the Girls Preparatory School community achieved during the school's Robin Hood Week in November. When the committee of students and faculty first met last May, most in attendance probably envisioned raising the average $12,000 for community and national charity organizations through the sales of pizza, cupcakes, and inexpensive trinkets.
 

This year, however, the students were inspired, by the book Three Cups of Tea and by a former member of the Class of 2008. A shared belief that one person really can make a difference on a global level took root from the book by Greg Mortensen and the story of his quest to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A member of the class of 2008, Palmer Griffin said before she died of leukemia in early 2007 that her single greatest vision for GPS was that the students work together as a school to accomplish great things.
 

So, a far different goal than that of any previous Robin Hood committee was set: to raise the money to build a school in Afghanistan for girls who would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive an education. And in honor of Palmer's wish, the theme chosen for the week was "Come Together."
 

The committee and faculty sponsors knew the cost to build a school and endow it with furniture, textbooks, school supplies, and a teacher for five years was $50,000, a seemingly unattainable amount of money to raise in just the one week, but their "nothing is impossible" attitude was contagious, and soon the entire student body was engaged in the fundraising effort. Additional support came from parents, alumnae, faculty and McCallie School students.
 

The seemingly impossible became a reality on November 9 when the goal was not only reached, but exceeded by almost $10,000. Representatives from GPS plan to present a check to CAI founder Greg Mortenson at a January conference in Nashville.

 

The carnival-like week took on an international flavor in keeping with the school's global emphasis. All items sold at the festival were Fair Trade items from the Market Street shop called World Next Door. (Fair Trade companies make sure that the artist creating the work or the farmer growing the food actually receives a "living" wage.)  The store owners agreed to share 20% of all sales profit for one week to GPS. While students still bought things for themselves, the emphasis was on how their purchase helps support others in need. Student clubs sold knit hats from Nepal, bells from India, jewelry from Kenya, and coffee from Guatemala.
 

In addition, the students conducted a "Give It Up" campaign in which classmates literally turned over paychecks from after-school jobs and saved money they would have normally spent on fast food and morning coffee. Students spent their money on a chance to throw a pie in a teacher's face, slip down an inflatable slide, or put a personal ad in the school newspaper. Other fundraising events included raffles, a "Rockin' Robin" dance on the front lawn, a cake walk, bake sales, and a photo booth. In addition, Middle School and Upper School McCallie students competed to raise the most money for the Robin Hood goal.