Who knew that talking about and raising money for chickens could be so fun?!
This Fall, the Green Bay Adventist Junior Academy (AJA) chose to fundraise for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International. A simple glance through their catalog revealed many projects worthy of support. Any one of them would have been a great choice. However, when the students in K-2 were asked to vote on a project, they excitedly shouted, “c-h-i-c-k-e-n-s”! So, chickens it was!
In August, AJA started a month-long campaign that cumulated on September 20th, with a Walk-A-Thon. For each $22.00 raised (the cost of one chicken and feed) a student would walk one-half mile. The goal was for each student to fundraise enough money to purchase two chickens, for a total of fifty-eight chickens in all.
Students and staff created an awareness of the fundraiser through multiple posts each week on their Green Bay Adventist Junior Academy Facebook and Instagram accounts. In the posted pictures, the students wore various chicken and animal costumes and posed in different spots on the AJA campus. Each picture had a chicken pun caption to go with it. They also notified their church family of their goals and progress during announcement time by dressing students up in chicken costumes and sharing ADRA’s needs and their goals as a school. The Green Bay church family rallied and generously supported the cause.
By the time the Walk-A-Thon came, AJA had received enough donations for the students to walk 71 miles as a school. Each student in grades K-6 walked two miles, while students in grades 7-10 walked three miles each. Additional money came in after the Walk-A-Thon and added to the total.
Scott Davis, the school treasurer, joyfully called an ADRA representative and informed them that AJA would be sending them $3,036. Enough money for 138 chickens! This fundraiser was a success because the Green Bay church family joined together with the students and families of the Adventist Junior Academy to support a common goal. This goal was two-fold. The first goal was to raise money for chickens so families would have a sustainable source of food and income. But AJA’s underlying goal was to help students see and practice the value of caring for others both locally and world-wide.
Together we can make a difference!
Carmen Magray, Grades K-2 Teacher at AJA
This story was also highlighted on the Lake Union Herald website on October 10, 2024: https://www.lakeunionherald.org/archive/articles/green-bay-students-take-a-fun-approach-to-fundraising
Green Bay Students Take a Fun Approach to Fundraising
In a display of enthusiasm and creativity, the students at Green Bay Adventist Junior Academy (AJA) embarked on a unique fundraising campaign this fall, raising money to support Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International.
The campaign, centered around the purchase of chickens, showcased the students’ commitment to making a difference in the world.
“We were thrilled to involve our students in the process,” said Carmen Magray, a teacher for grades K–2 at the academy. “When we presented them with the various projects from ADRA’s catalog, they enthusiastically voted for chickens, and it was clear that their hearts were set on this initiative.”
Launching the month-long campaign in August, the school community set a goal to raise funds through a walk-a-thon scheduled for September 20th. Each student aimed to raise $44—the amount needed to purchase two chickens and their feed—which would require them to walk a mile for each donation secured.
“We wanted to purchase two chickens per student, amounting to a goal of 58 chickens,” Magray explained. To spread awareness about the campaign, AJA utilized their social media platforms, sharing vibrant photos of students dressed in chicken costumes at various locations on campus. Each post was cleverly captioned with chicken puns to engage the community.
The excitement extended to the local church, where the school communicated their goals during announcements. “The kids dressed in chicken costumes really made an impact when we shared ADRA’s needs with the congregation,” Magray recounted. “The support from our Green Bay church family was overwhelming.”
On the day of the walk-a-thon, the students showcased their dedication as they collectively walked 71 miles. Students in grades K–6 walked two miles each, while those in grades 7–10 walked three miles each. Following the event, additional contributions continued to pour in, further boosting their fundraising total.
Scott Davis, the school treasurer, joyfully called an ADRA representative and let them know he would be sending a total of $3,036, which is enough for 138 chickens. “There was a pause on the other end of the line and the person replied, ‘Wow!’”
The success of this initiative not only highlighted the power of community engagement but also served a greater purpose. The students learned valuable lessons about compassion and the importance of aiding others both locally and globally.
“We set out to not just raise money for chickens, but also to help our students understand the significance of caring for others,” Magray remarked. “Together, we truly can make a difference!”
Lake Union Herald Staff
