‘Rally on the Green’ set for Saturday
The sixth annual Charter School Authority rally, Rally on the Green, will feature activities for the entire family along with an afternoon of fun at Cape Royal Golf Club.
“We have done the rally for six years, which has really just been a four school wide fundraiser,” Board Member Jen-Hope Bellis said. “We started five years ago, so four schools would be able to come together and create one event.”
Rally on the Green takes place Saturday. There is an 18-hole 8 a.m. tee time for $100 a player and a 9-hole single family-friendly pace 10 a.m. tee time for $75 a player with a free child under 15 years old.
Golf packages can be purchased at www.capecharterfoundation.com.
The other activities will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with local band Iconic performing. Those who attend are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, blanket and relax while enjoying some food, drinks and good music.
In addition to the band, Bellis said they also have performances from their schools during breaks. The high school chorus group will perform and there will be sneak peeks of “Alice and Wonderland,” a production from the middle school, and “Dear Edwina,” an elementary school production.
Booths will also be located at the event promoting the schools clubs through information and interaction.
Wristbands are available, $5 before the event at www.capecharterfoundation.com and can be picked up at will call the day of, or $10 at the door.
Wristbands give the youth attendees unlimited access to the rock wall, inflatable bounce house, obstacle course, Nerf war, human soccer ball and laser tag
The event will also feature food and beer from Suncoast Beverages.
“The golf course will have some food stations outside for purchase, barbecue sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs,” Bellis said.
Another popular Rally attraction is the on-line auction, which is open and can be viewed at www.capecharterfoundation.com.
Items include a week’s stay in a Georgia cabin, stays on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, as well as limo rides. Other fun items include being a principal for the day, naming the media center and bowling and ice cream with a teacher.
In addition, artwork done by the students will also be up for auction as well.
“The auction closes the day of the rally, March 9, at 4 p.m.,” Bellis said.
Last year the auction raised $15,000 for the foundation, with funds to be provided to the municipal charter school system.
Those who win, can either have their prizes mailed, or picked up at the school.
Bellis said the rally is an affordable day for the family, which helps kids in the community at the same time
“It’s a rally for our schools to get our community, parents and students excited about our schools,” she said.
The Rally has some solid community support, with the Gunterberg Charitable Foundation as its title sponsor.
“They continue to be a really great supporter of what we are doing. We are very thankful to the entire board that runs that,” she said. “The companies and businesses of Cape Coral continue to impress us as they support our events and auction. We cannot thank them enough.”
The goal of the Cape Coral Charter School Foundation is to support the school system because the charter schools receive less funding than does the Lee County School District.
“The foundation’s rule is to help raise money to offset some of those deficient funds,” Bellis said.
The areas in which the foundation provides assistance is the Lighthouse Awards, scholarships for seniors at Oasis High School and mini grants for teachers.
Some of the funds so far have gone to a filtration system in the middle school to talk about clean water, equipment for the culinary class and microphones and sound equipment for the drama department.
Bellis said the teachers have to apply for the grant. The grant is provided depending on the student reach and amount requested.
“That money that we raise, the ’80s event in December, or the Rally, all the funds go directly back in those four schools to provide for those students,” she said. “It is a money maker. They are supporting the schools and we need it. We are trying to make it fun, raise some money, and keep it fun and family friendly. Hopefully people in the community come out and have a good time with their family because that is what it’s all about.”