“I told my children we would only stay an hour, but we ended up staying for the entire event. We all had fun,” SMCA teacher Mr. Jacob Namyst reported. That enjoyment, along with raising money for a favorite charity, The Catherine Foundation, was the goal of the twenty-four student planners of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy as they implemented the Fun Funds Fair evening on April 3. Those objectives – fun and fundraising – were accomplished.

The fair experience began with guests receiving a tiny plush cow and snapping a picture with the two Chick-fil-A cows. After several runs through the inflatable obstacle course, children played games, made Easter crafts, watched their balloon animals made, and had their faces painted. Parents bid on items in the Silent Auction donated by Maryland International Raceway, Salsitas Grill, and Mrs. Debbie Schneider. Families enjoyed hot dogs, popcorn, and complimentary Chick-fil-A nuggets. Leader academy students organized and operated each of the stations. Alexandria Cunningham, SMCA sophomore and member of the financial committee, said, “The best part of this event was
being able to see all the kids going excitingly from table to table with their prizes and knowing everything was for a good cause.”

The Fun Funds Fair was the final Impact Project to end the year’s training on creating “impact through action” as part of Chick-fil-A Leader Academy. SMCA was the only high school the La Plata restaurant sponsored for the program this year. The monthly leader labs taught them about communicating, overcoming fear to make a first step, and serving as a leader, but the real education came from working together with teams to make events happen. The Kick-Off 1-Million Book
Giveaway in September and the Do-Good-December work with the Our Place Waldorf Soup Kitchen were stepping stones to make the Fun Funds Fair a success. Senior Jada Harden, leader of the activities committee, expressed: “The Fun Funds Fair was a wonderful experience that brought the community of Southern Maryland Christian Academy together and gave National Honor Society members the opportunity to put their leadership skills to the test.”  In the end, a donation check to the Catherine Foundation is on the way. The experience (and the Chick-fil-A food) has been memorable.