March 29, 2024

CCHS event to fund more Honor Flights

FBLA organizes ‘Fight for Flights’ at January wrestling meet

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More Union County veterans will be able to attend an Honor Flight next May thanks to the fundraising efforts of two Creston Community High School activities.

CCHS Future Business Leaders of America and Creston/O-M wrestling are again working together to support the cost of Honor Flights for Union County veterans. The Honor Flight program is for any wartime veteran to tour monuments and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. As a way to maximize the number of veterans on each flight, Vietnam War veterans serve as guardians for World War II and Korean War veterans.

Last May, 10 Union County veterans were part of the Brushy Creek Honor Flight out of Fort Dodge.

Shannon Smith, FBLA adviser at Creston Community High School, said the goal in this year’s fundraiser in conjunction with the Jan. 18 home wrestling double dual against Shenandoah and Denison-Schleswig is to fund more Honor Flight participants than last year.

This year, there are 17 Honor Flight applicants from Union County, Smith said.

“Last year we raised about $7,800 and each flight is about $750, so we were able to raise enough for 10 veterans to attend the Honor Flight,” Smith said. “We’re trying to cover as many of those 17 applicants as possible this year.”

“Fight for Flights” is the theme for the Jan. 18 wrestling double dual. One of the primary fundraisers is the sale of “Fight for Flights” T-shirts (checks payable to CCHS). T-shirts are sold for $10 or $12, depending on size, with long-sleeve shirts sold for $15 each and crew neck sweatshirts for $20.

Deadline for T-shirt orders is 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18. Order forms are available in all local schools and on the Creston Booster Club Facebook page.

Sponsorships

Another key element of the fundraising is individual and business sponsorships and donations (checks payable to Brushy Creek Honor Flights).

Those who make a $50 donation will receive recognition on signs and wrestling programs and mention in local media coverage.

Those who make $100 donation will receive those same recognitions along with the name of the business or individual on the back of the T-shirts. (Businesses must donate the $100 by the end of the school day Monday to be printed on the shirts.)

Donations can be sent to Creston Community High School in care of Shannon Smith, FBLA adviser.

As of Wednesday morning, sponsorships had already been registered by American Family Insurance-Katie Turner Agency, Creston Eagles #1398 ($200 donation), Gavilon Grain, Mario’s Sports Bar and Grill, Orr Heating & Air Conditioning, SCICF-Union County, State Farm Insurance-Ben Adamson, Townline Roundhouse Apartments, Tom and Nancy Hawks and Carter Agency.

The wrestling team is part of another phase of fundraising associated with this event.

Individuals and businesses can pledge a designated amount per pin earned by Creston/O-M wrestlers during the double dual meet. Those pledges can be made in advance, or at the meet. A table staffed by FBLA representatives will be taking those pledges at the meet, as well as tickets for a 50/50 raffle with the winner receiving half of the proceeds and the other half going toward the event.

“First National Bank, for example, is donating $20 per varsity pin that night,” Smith said. “We know the wrestlers are excited about the chance to contribute in this manner. We’ll be taking those pledges right up to the end of the meet that night.”

The T-shirt was designed by FBLA student Rachel Wignall. It includes the slogan of the event, the date and opponents of the wrestling team and an airplane within the wording.

“It’s all about the Honor Flights,” Wignall said. “It includes an airplane like in a flyover, and an aerial view of wrestlers in action.”

This is the fifth year FBLA has joined with the wrestling team in a public service fundraiser. Two were involved in March of Dimes and one for the Ronald McDonald House, where families can stay while their children are hospitalized.

Good partnership

Smith says the two activities are a good match.

“It makes a good fit because there are so many people who come out to wrestling,” Smith said, “and there aren’t typically ‘cause’ events at the wrestling meets. Basketball has done the cancer awareness and other events, but we thought this group wasn’t getting represented as much. It will also be senior night at the Jan. 18 meet, so there will be senior wrestler pictures up, some USA decorations and posters about who this event will help.”

Wrestling coach Darrell Frain is pleased the team can be a part of such an honorable cause.

“It’s always worked out well,” Frain said. “The fact that we have wrestlers in her class helps a lot. Since the beginning, FBLA needed a fundraiser and the wrestling team has been more than willing to support it ever since. Usually it’s a night when we have a pretty big crowd so it works out well for them.”

The final segment of fundraising is a “coin war” conducted in each seminar room in the high school as well as at other local schools, where prizes are awarded for the most money raised in coins contributed to the cause.

Anyone seeking more information or wanting to make a donation can contact Smith at Creston Community High School, 641-782-2141 ext. 2305, or email ssmith@crestonschools.org.