The halls of Skagit Adventist Academy in Burlington, Washington, were still humming with activity when the school family committed to raising funds for Delap Seventh-day Adventist School in Majuro, an atoll in the Marshall Islands. Alumnus Matt Rowe was serving there as a student missionary, creating a special bond between the two schools.
The school family dedicated an entire month for fundraising to carry out instructions of Heb. 13:16 to not forget to do good and share with others.
SAA offers pre-K through 12th grade in a school small enough to feel like a family and large enough to make a great impact during fundraising opportunities.
SAA’s theme for the 2019–2020 school year was "Elevate." The Bible verse the school focused on was Eph. 4:29: “Do not let words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear.”
The Delap Adventist School, established in 1978, is the largest school on Majuro. The school has a gym but really needed new athletic balls — primarily basketballs and volleyballs.
Knowing SAA kids love to compete against each other, the staff decided to utilize colored ping pong balls to represent the amount of money each class raised. Soon, kids wanted their class’ colored ping pong balls to be in the lead.
One ping pong ball represented $10 raised. When the fundraiser began, there was a goal of $5 per student. In one month’s time, Skagit Adventist School students were able to raise $720 for the Delap Adventist School, surpassing the initial goal.
Aubrey Fautheree, SAA principal, had the great idea to have a simple tube and funnel to give the kids a chance to “make a basket with their ping pong ball.” Soon kids were bringing all their dollars for the chance to make their ping pong into the “basket.” Even long-time school lunch volunteer Mina Oxyer got in on the fun.
This fundraiser for a sister school helped set a good tone of community and service before the coronavirus caused school families to self-isolate and engage in distance learning. Like Heb 6:10 reminds, God does not forget our work and loves to have us show how we help His people. Skagit Adventist Academy looks forward to continued opportunities for engaging students in service both locally and abroad.
Alan, a student at Delap Seventh-day Adventist School, holds one of the balls donated by Skagit Adventist Academy.
Tami Rowe, SAA's fifth and sixth grade homeroom teacher, is the mother of an SAA alumnus serving as a student missionary on Majuro.
Mina Oxyer, faithful volunteer at Skagit Adventist Academy, donated money and made a "basket."
