Charter schools rally: Fun fest for families set for Saturday
Cape Coral’s charter schools have partnered up to host a fundraiser this weekend.
The second annual Charter Authority Rally will be held Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at the German American Social Club of Cape Coral. The event will feature multiple raffles with various prizes, a car and motorcycle show, live entertainment, vendors, and games and activities for youths of all ages.
“The idea behind the rally was to get the four schools to work as one,” Oasis Charter Elementary School Principal Steven Hook said, explaining that the schools kept approaching the same entities for funding. “Do one big event where all four would work together and raise a big amount together.”
Last year’s rally raised approximately $60,000 – with about $15,000 going to each school.
“It was a great success,” he said, adding that an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 attended.
With the proceeds from last year, Oasis Middle School and Christa McAuliffe Elementary purchased full laboratories for their schools. Oasis High School used the funding to expand its music program.
“We used it for the enhancement of technology and students programs,” Hook said.
“The goal is for that money to go directly back to the kids,” he said.
Organizers hope to raise as much money as possible this year.
“Our goal continues to be $100,000,” Hook said. “I just think that’s a good number.”
Admission and parking for the fundraiser are free for the public.
From noon to 2 p.m., local classic rock band High Tide will take the stage.
“There’s entertainment throughout the day,” he said.
From the hit TV show “The Voice,” Ricky Manning will sing from 2 to 3 p.m. The band Grayson Rogers, which performs country, will follow from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and again from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“In between, our high school football team – the guys on the team – are dressing up in evening gowns and doing a spoof,” Hook said. “For a $1 donation, people can vote for their contestant.”
Another big draw at the fundraiser are the rides and activities, open from 1 to 5 p.m.
The extreme ride area will include a quad bungee jump, wipe out zone, race car derby, rock climbing wall, inflatable obstacle course and more. Extreme unlimited ride wristbands cost $20 per person.
There is also a bounce house area for small children – youth 50 inches and shorter. The area will feature the under the sea playground, inflatable pirate ship and more. Wristbands are $15 per person.
Jami DiMaria, event chairperson, explained that VIP entertainment packages are available.
Basic VIP packages include a meet-and-greet for four with Manning, along with photos, a signed picture of the Grayson Rogers band and preferred viewing for four for the live entertainment.
The package costs $50 total.
Extreme VIP packages include all of the basic VIP package items, along with two extreme unlimited ride wristbands, two 2015 event T-shirts and 20 raffle tickets for the Chinese auction.
The package costs $100 total.
“It’s a great family thing to do,” DiMaria, who has two children enrolled at Oasis Charter Elementary School, said of the fundraiser. “It’s meant to be a fun day for the community.”
On Saturday, a car and motorcycle show will also take place on the grounds. Organizers are working with Premium Productions this year to bring more show vehicles and professionally judged categories.
“There will be two trophies in over 40 classes, nearly 100 trophies,” DiMaria said.
The categories will range from Corvettes, stock and modified vehicles by year, to foreign cars and motorcycles. There will be 18 overall Best of Show by divisions, a People’s Choice and a Kid’s Choice.
“We’re trying to get the kids involved from the schools,” she said.
Registration for the show will start at 9 a.m.
The entry fee is $25 and includes a dash plaque for the first 100 participants and a free gift bag.
A few raffle drawings will be held just for the participants, as well as a 50/50 raffle.
“We’re thinking that we’re going to hit right around 100 cars,” Hook said.
The trophies will be awarded at about 3 p.m.
In addition to the entertainment, rides and car show, multiple raffles with various prizes will be available to the public. The big raffle will feature a grand prize of a Disney Family Cruise for four with $1,000 spending money or $6,500. The second place winner will get a three-day cruise for four.
There are 25 prizes up for grabs in total in the big raffle, including hotel and vacation stays, bicycles, airline tickets, tickets to most major amusement parks, fishing charter, baseball tickets and more.
Tickets for the big raffle cost $20 each.
The drawing will be held at about 5:45 p.m., and you do not have to be present to win.
For the Chinese raffle, the students put together more than 25 gift baskets. The baskets vary from a money tree and a night out at the theater, to a Florida sports package. The tickets start at $1 each.
There will also be silent raffles held, featuring motorcycle rentals, clothing and artwork.
“This year we’re a full marketplace, kind of set up kind of like a farmer’s market,” DiMaria said.
There will be booths where auction items will be set up or students offering games or arts and crafts. There will be business and vendor booths, including local artists, a book distributor and such.
Food vendors and carnival-style food will be available for purchase.
Along with soda and water, alcoholic beverages like beer and wine will be on site.
The German American Social Club is at 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road.
For more information, visit: charterauthorityrally.org.
Oasis Charter Elementary School is at 3514 Oasis Blvd.
Christa McAuliffe Elementary School is at 2817 S.W. Third Lane.
Oasis Middle is at 3507 Oasis Blvd., and Oasis High is at 3519 Oasis Blvd.