The parking lot in front of U.S. Cellular will be abuzz with activity Friday afternoon when local students help kick off the Calling All Communities campaign.
Through Calling All Communities, U.S. Cellular will donate $150,000 to the school that receives the most online votes. The other top 17 districts will receive $50,000.
All K-12 schools in the country are eligible for the contest — big or small, public or private.
To better the chances of bringing money to Allen County, administrators from Iola USD 257, Marmaton Valley USD 256 and Humboldt USD 258 have agreed to utilize a team approach.
Thus, all votes for the county schools should be directed to Iola Middle School. If IMS places among the winners, the prize money would be split evenly among the three districts — $50,000 each if IMS places first; $16,666.66 apiece if the school finishes in the top 18.
The funds may be spent however each district sees fit.
Voting runs through Oct. 21.
IN ORDER TO vote, a card must be picked up from the U.S. Cellular office, 700 N. State St., in Iola. It is, after all, a promotion geared get people inside the cellular provider’s store. But voters do not have to be U.S. Cellular customers to participate, organizers stressed.
Each person is allowed only a single vote, unlike last year when folks could vote daily.
Local businesses have chipped in to make the get-out-the-vote campaign more appealing for students. Iola Walmart and King’s Sandwich Shop have agreed to provide prizes to the students who bring in the largest number of voters.
For students to get credit, voters must have with them a flyer from the school with the student’s name on the back. Boxes have been set up at the U.S. Cellular office to make it easier to count ballots.
King’s has offered to pay for the grand prize, either a Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire tablet.
THE FESTIVITIES kick off at 3 p.m. with local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts serving free hot dogs to anyone who shows up.
A water balloon toss begins at 4 o’clock, followed at 4:30 by a 40-yard dash. The race will be divided into age groups to give all an equal chance at victory.
A tug of war begins at 5 o’clock — teams can have no more than 10 members — with prizes provided by A & W Family Restaurant. A hula hoop contest takes center stage at 5:30.
Iola firefighters will be on hand to show off some of their equipment and visit with the youngsters.
Iolan Jim Talkington will serve as master of ceremonies.
