UCS fundraiser ‘Power of Purpose’ brings in over $10,000, double its goal

STERLING HEIGHTS/SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA — On Nov. 1, Schwarzkoff Elementary School students experienced a “Day of Awesomeness.”

After raising more than $10,000, which was double the goal for the fitness-focused Power of Purpose Step it Up fundraiser, Schwarzkoff students were rewarded for their efforts with a day filled with large inflatable obstacle courses and games, dancing, and other fun activities.

Schwarzkoff fourth grader Loryaan Nouri said it was a blast.

“Today is awesome because we get to do something that we normally don’t get to do. It’s something special, and it’s sweet,” Nouri said in a press release.

According to its website, pop4kids.org, Power of Purpose wants to “start a revolution in fundraising — one that focuses not just on philanthropic impact, but also on recognizing and empowering the awesomeness in every child.” Power of Purpose as an organization creates fundraising programs and is a subsidiary of Collective Goods.

The Step it Up fundraiser challenges kids to help others and their school. The money raised helps pay for playground equipment, building and grounds updates and student activities. The “Day of Awesomeness” is the students’ reward, where they get to play on the obstacle courses that are reminiscent of those seen in television shows such as “Wipeout” and “American Ninja Warrior.”

“Our school hosted a fitness focused fundraiser called the Power of Purpose. We want to encourage kids to be active while motivating them to raise money for our school,” Schwarzkoff Principal Amber Fante said via email.

In addition to the Day of Awesomeness, Fante had promised her students that she would run to school from her home if they surpassed a goal of raising $5,000.

“The students blew me away when they doubled our initial goal,” Fante stated in a press release.

It will be a few months before she attempts the run.

“I will make my run in the spring so I can have time to train. I live in St. Clair Shores, and it will be a 15-mile run,” she said.

Officer Jonathan Journeau, of the Sterling Heights Police Department, was invited to the Day of Awesomeness to spend the day with students.

“I went to elementary school here, so it’s great to be back here where I went to school,” Journeau said in a press release. “It’s just awesome to give back and be back a part of the community I grew up in.”

Nouri said her favorite part about the day was that they got to play in the bouncy houses.

“Mrs. Fante is going to run from her house to the school because we raised so much money. She’s probably going to be tired at the end,” she said via email.

Another highlight for the students on the Day of Awesomeness was Fante and second grade teacher Joanna Duncan attempting the “Wipe Out Obstacle Course.” The course has multiple large, inflated balls that a person has to quickly jump on and jump to the next ball in order to continue along the course. With their students cheering them on, both Fante and Duncan attempted the challenging setup but slid off the first ball and into the cushioning below.