PHILLIPS — “For the first time ever in the history of 8th grade fundraising, a student has sold enough items to earn the top prize!”

As they do first thing every morning, students in grades 5 – 8 at Phillips Elementary School gather with their teachers in the hallway outside their classrooms to say The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and hear the morning announcements. Last Friday, Mrs. Dawn Fidler, more fondly known as “Ms. Fid”, shared the big news that 8th grader Kody Dunn had made 8th grade fundraising history.

Cheers and applause filled the hallway as our hero, surrounded by his exuberant fellow students, stood modestly blushing and grinning from ear to ear.

“All I could hear,” he said afterwards, “was Dawson and Owen yelling right behind me and the clapping and the cheers…”

When this particular campaign began, Kody set himself the goal of selling at least 175 items from The Believe Kids flier, which features holiday gift wrap and tissue paper among other things. 175 was the magic number to win the grand prize – a brand new Xbox.

“I wanted to win that prize, and get the money for the class,” he explained, “That particular prize because it has the newest console, a mega upgrade from the current one. Me and my sister were currently sharing the old one. Now, she takes over the original.

“I figured this was a once in a lifetime chance. I’d participated (in fundraising) before in grades 6 and 7, helping the 8th grade class in those years, but I never really set a goal before. This is finally my 8th grade trip, so I wanted to work especially hard.”

For the next couple of months, Kody walked around town, knocking on doors, sometimes with his classmate, Owen. He called on family and friends. Near the end of the sale, he was still 62 items short of his goal, so one morning, before classes began, he visited all the teachers at school, even stopping by the Superintendent’s office.

During study hall that Wednesday, two other classmates, Jenna and Kenyon, wanted to order from me,” Kody continued, “That made me really happy because they were definitely rooting for me. They told me, ‘You’re almost there, Buddy.’

“That’s when I knew I was going to meet my goal.”

He finished that day only ten items down. Later, his sister and his dad purchased items.

“That’s what put me over the top,” Kody declared.

Later, while he was working on his school binder at home that last night, Kody’s mom, Courtney Dunn, aka “my biggest supporter”, was counting out the number of items he had sold.

“Kody!” she shouted, “You’ve got it!!”

“That was pretty exciting,” Kody stated happily.

Kody actually reached his goal plus one! According to Mrs. Fidler, he sold 176 items, bringing in a total of $2, 368.50. The grand total for the whole class, between in person and online sales was $6,072. 40% of that total, $2,428.80, goes to the 8th Grade Class of 2022.

His advice to future fundraisers, “Dedicate yourself and don’t give up!”

Ms. Fid, along with math teacher and co-advisor Mrs. Melissa Galusha, has been the 8th grade class advisor for nine years.

“I’ve always told them their biggest support system is right here in this building – from classmates to top administration,” she said, adding, “but I did not expect it to be that crazy!”

For the first time, this year’s class trip will be to Boston. For many years previously, Quebec City was their destination. Two years ago, because of the restrictions in place with the pandemic, the trip had to be cancelled altogether. Last year, it was allowed, though restricted to in-state. The class visited Funtown Splashtown USA and the Trampoline Park in Saco.

Kody posted the following thank-you note on his mom’s Facebook page:

“This is Kody on Mom’s so I can tag. I reached my goal of 175 items. With all you I have done something never done before! We made history. A HUGE thank you to Nate Manzer, that was so unexpected. Thank you, Dad Josh Dunn, Bean, Kaydence Dunn, Mom Cortney Dunn, Aunt Carol Weiler Dykstra, Uncle Jim, Mema Susan Weiler-Malek, Mel Galusha, Aunt Nancy, Brian DuMont, Kirsten Butterfield, Casey McMullen, Danielle Mathieu, Amanda Smith, Rhonda Coffren, Danielle London, Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Nicholas Gorzalkowski, Karen Holbrook, Tanya Brewer Morgan, Grampa Rick, Gisele Haines, Joanne Bachelder, Ryan Bachelder, Nicole Levesque, Bobbi Lilley, Bonnie Kinney, Jess Ross, Jenna Osgood, Tiki White, Catherine Goodwin, Kathy Howard, Kenyon Brewer, and Betty White. I totally could not have reached my goal without all of your support. The love is real. This is a huge deal for me. I got discouraged for a while but with the love and support from everyone in crunch time I know anything is possible. 1 thing I learned from this is how many amazing people I have in my life. This has been incredible and fun. Thank you all again. Also all the people that were rooting me on, thank you for believing.”

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.