“We had a great crowd and both the game and activities were lots of fun!” exclaimed R-MA Community Service Director Stephanie Portillo. “The Faculty/Staff Team earned the most points with the final score being 32-28, but I know we will all agree that our brothers and sisters in Sub-Sahara Africa are the real winners since all of our efforts have been to help them prevent and treatment Malaria, a deadly but totally preventable disease affecting that region incredibly taking a life every 60 seconds!”
In addition to contributors sponsoring players, a Trivia Contest and a Half-Court Shot contest at halftime helped to raise funds. The Trivia Contest was hosted by Maria Maxwell, the coordinator of Imagine No Malaria in Virginia. The female representative from Bravo Flight won the Trivia Contest, earning her flight a day on which they can wear their activity uniform (polo shirt and khaki pants) instead of the Air Force JROTC uniform they normally wear. After quite a few attempts, four students made the Half Court Shots, earning the $20 prizes in cash and gift cards: Kota Ikemoto ’19, Sam Beavers ‘17, Ebot Makia ’15 and Fafa Eke-Spiff ’15.
Meanwhile, the R-MA Parents’ Association was busy selling baked goods and drinks, and Imagine No Malaria bracelets were available as well. At the end of the night, the Randolph-Macon Academy family had raised a grand total of $893.59. Donations are still being accepted through March 20, 2015, so the organizers, Portillo and Chaplain Josh Orndorff, are hoping that they will surpass the $1,000 mark.
“Pretty much every office and department on campus had a hand in making this a very successful event and fundraiser,” said Portillo. “It was also a great morale booster!”
Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational day and boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12. Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and have the option to participate in a flight program. R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, VA.