NAFC Education Foundation's Royal Court raises over $53k for local schools
Dec. 11—FLOYD COUNTY — The 2023 queen of fundraising was crowned Friday night before the New Albany-Floyd Central high school basketball game.
The New Albany Floyd County Education Foundation held its second Royal Court this year, as volunteers raised money for the organization. The foundation supports local educators and students by providing resources to New Albany and Floyd County schools.
The campaign culminated with the crowning of this year's top-fundraiser just before the rivalry basketball game.
Vicki Hays-Pierce, a 1970 Floyd Central graduate, raised the most money. Throughout the six weeks of the fundraiser, she came up with the total of $13,000 for the foundation.
When she was first approached about becoming a member of the court, she was unsure about being involved. After talking with Tyler Bliss, the foundation's executive director, she agreed to try it out.
"I was really hoping to not be embarrassed and to at lease make the $5,000," Hays-Pierce said.
She more than doubled that goal.
She called a friend for some help on the campaign. Her friend said that she would become Hays-Pierce's campaign manager.
After they brainstormed and came up with some ideas to raise money, they started raising a lot of funds.
"I was just overwhelmed with it and it was so much fun," Hays-Pierce said. "It was really exciting because it was New Albany and Floyd Central and there's always been that competitive nature between the two schools."
Royal Court helps foot the foundation's Great Classroom grant, where any educator can apply for up to $500 a year to use for resources on their classroom.
Money from the event will also go to fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Project, which provides books to children five and under in Floyd County every month for free.
Four graduates from both schools were chosen as candidates to raise money for the event and the person who raised the most money was crowned the top fundraiser.
"For the past six weeks they have been going out into their own circles of influence and fundraising on behalf of the education foundation to their own campaigns," Bliss said.
The eight candidates were able to raise a little over $53,000 for the fundraiser, which is about $10,000 over what they raised last year.
Other court members and amounts raised:
—Al Knable($8,543)
—Gary Banet($5,320)
—Laura McGuirk($5,028)
—Laura Gilmore($4,445)
—Matthew Wiegman ($7,630)
—Nicole Yates($5,480)
—Pam Snow($2,811)
