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Thousands hit the streets for education

Posted on October 6, 2011October 6, 2011 by Staff

Participants in the Walk for Education head down Merritt Mill Road toward the carnival at Lincoln Center. Photo by Alicia Stemper

By Caroline Corrigan
Staff Writer
Thousands of parents, teachers and students swarmed Franklin Street Saturday during the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation’s 15th Annual Walk for Education.

This year’s walk, themed “Funky 15,” went well beyond what was expected in both attendance and fundraising.
“This year the police said we had 6,000 people, which is a huge jump from last year’s 4,000 people,” said Kim Hoke, director of the Public School Foundation. “We raised more than we expected, which was a wonderful outcome. Last year we raised $85,000, while this year we raised over $100,000.”

Hoke said the successful turnout can be attributed to several causes.

“It was a cool and gorgeous day, and we didn’t have substantive conflicts such as the State Fair, football games or any other major event in the community,” she said. “Folks really came out.”

The walk, which was designed to generate community interest and support for public education, went from UNC’s McCorkle Place to a carnival held at the Lincoln Center on Merritt Mill Road. The carnival, in addition to functioning as a fundraiser for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, was a major incentive for student participation. Complete with cotton-candy machines, live music and inflatable tiger-, alligator- and pirate-themed bounce houses, kids and parents alike were thoroughly entertained.

“My favorite is the bouncy houses!” said Jack Wainio, a second-grader at Seawell Elementary School.

Hoke said that the event helps raise funds for school supplies that the state and local budget does not provide. Among these are technological needs, such as Smart Boards and Netbooks, textbooks, science materials, physical education equipment and outdoor facilities, such as playgrounds.

The proceeds also help to fund school-based projects. Ruben Angulo, a junior at Carrboro High School, volunteered with other students at the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program’s popcorn booth to raise money for a school in Kenya.

“I think it’s important because everyone is here to make money, not for themselves, but for their school and for people in need,” he said.

While most of the event went smoothly, Hoke said the foundation did have to face one unexpected problem.

“We under-ordered our T-shirts because we didn’t anticipate the amount of interest in the event,” she said. “We put in an emergency order that came in Friday, but we didn’t have exactly all the right sizes. It’s a good problem to have – the event and the shirt were popular.”

Despite this setback, Hoke said that the event was successful because of the wide range of community involvement.

“It’s an enormous undertaking that involves a wide range of people in our community,” she said. “Everybody worked together beautifully.”

Unity was a sentiment that others also felt was important.

“It’s a chance to meet and do something with the community of parents and kids,” said parent Stephen Fraser. This is one of the only chances where everyone gets to do something together.”

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