Second annual penny war starts Thursday
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| Jacob Wolfe, left, Travis Miller, center, and Levi Eblen, all members of Creston Future Business Leaders of America, gather containers for the second annual penny war, sponsored by Creston FBLA with the proceeds going to the March of Dimes charity. This year, businesses within the community are being asked to participate in the penny war with the schools. There is also a challenge between the Creston and Winterset FBLA chapters. (CNA photo by SHAWNA CREVELING) |
Creston High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is sponsoring the second annual penny war competition to raise awareness and money for the March of Dimes charity.
The March of Dimes was created by Franklin D. Roosevelt and first known as the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis. Roosevelt started the foundation because of his personal struggle with polio. The foundation was able to provide research for vaccines that eventually erased the polio epidemic in the United States.
Because the first mission had been accomplished, the March of Dimes changed its focus to preventing birth defects and infant mortality, forming the foundation we know today. All chapters of FBLA, nationwide, give to the March of Dimes charity.
Competition
The first penny war competition was held in February between homerooms and seminars throughout the entire Creston School District. This year, the competition is not only within the Creston School District, but will include any business in Creston willing to participate.
"After the competition last year that was just between the schools we had a lot of businesses come up to us and say they would have gotten involved in the process," said Travis Miller, Creston FBLA president.
"So, that is why it is more communitywide this year."
The competition will start Thursday, and continue through Thursday of next week.
During a penny war, each participating entity will have a container provided to them. Each entity will then attempt to fill the container with pennies, the catch being only pennies will be counted to find the winners. For example, if a quarter is placed in the container, it will cancel out 25 pennies. All of the money, including the quarters, nickels, dimes and bills, will be donated.
To make things even more interesting, the Creston FBLA chapter and the Winterset FBLA chapter have set up a communitywide challenge to see which community can raise the most money for the organization.
"We chose Winterset not only because they are rivalry, but they are kind of the only one that is our size and has an FBLA chapter," said Shannon Smith, Creston FBLA adviser.
During the Oct. 12 football game between Winterset and Creston, the FBLA chapter will be collecting money from both sides, which will be included in the challenge.
"We are hoping to have an announcement during the game of who won the competition," said Miller.
Smith said her and the Creston FBLA chapter have been speaking to the March of Dimes foundation about making a traveling trophy for the chapters to pass back and forth each year after the competition winners are announced. Also, the class from each elementary, middle school and high school level with the most pennies will win an ice cream cake. The class with the most overall money raised will win a pizza party.
