They all get so competitive during the events , and they will remember you . It ’ s fun to have one of the athletes remember you from a previous competition and come up to you asking if people are there or joke around about who is going to win .”
— Mitchell McKinney with the Colquitt County Program for Exceptional Children
Photograph by Jill Stringfellow Photography
actively . We make sure of that because that is not what the program is for .”
United Way is one of the largest donors to the program .
“ They do so much for us ,” said McKinney . “ United Way has been a big part of this program ’ s growth .” However , there are other donors a well . “ National Beef also donated to us this year when we held our biggest fundraiser ,” said Jones . “ We always do our raffle drawing during the local Winter Olympics that we hold at the high school .”
During the 2023 fundraiser , they raised roughly $ 15,000 , including the chunk from National Beef .
“ We have all the teachers and paraeducators selling tickets ,” said Jones . “ Then , during the local Winter Games we do three cash drawings with the tickets sold .”
The first place winner last year got a cash pot of $ 1,000 .
“ We also have a side drawing for those selling the tickets ,” said Jones . “ For every 10 they sell one ticket is added in that side drawing with their name .”
But , even with all that , the fundraising doesn ’ t stop there .
“ We also partnered with Tidal Wave last year ,” said Jones . “ That was a really fun day .”
Those in the program , as well as the administration , spent the entire day at the car wash working .
“ We would help check the cars in and get the windows washed and ready ,” said Jones . “ The kids really enjoyed it , and we got a portion of all the sales that day in addition what we had gotten from the donation table we set up .”
It ’ s not only in cash donations that the special needs program gets the assistance needed .
“ Our kids are able to get a free physical every three years ,” said McKinney . “ We partner with a physical physician in South Georgia as a part of this program , and we actually get paid a certain amount for each physical they complete - that goes directly back into the program .”
The Colquitt County School System is also a large contributor to the program .
“ We couldn ’ t be what we are without the school system ,” said McKinney . “ They do too
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