farragutpress

‘Footloose’ FIS raises $31k

April 22, 2021 by

Farragut Intermediate School students went “Footloose” in-class for a good cause Thursday, April 1, participating in a dance-a-thon that raised more than $31,000. “Typically, FIS does a Fun Run in the fall to raise money for the school, where students get pledges to run 30 laps. But this year with limits on volunteers, COVID protocols, virtual/in-person students and other limitations, we came up with an alternative we felt we would be better able to pull off,” FIS Parent Teacher Organization president Elizabeth Munk said. “We set our goal at $10,000, but our community was so generous, we raised over $31,000. Instead of using laps, we did minutes danced, and everyone was able to participate from their classroom or from their home — all at the same time. We hired a deejay, and Knox Dance Worx provided us with a dance instructor, Lillie Martin. They broadcast from the studio inside FIS to the kids at home and in school, and Lillie taught the kids a “footloose” dance with the help of fourth-grader Lauren Neal.

Our top in-person fundraisers as of March 31 got to show their dance moves from the studio, too.” To add to the fun, Munk said each class was encouraged to choose a theme, such as Western, 80s, Neon and Glow Sticks. “We are so thankful for the support of our community, and the feedback we’ve received suggests the kids really enjoyed it too,” Munk added.