By Holly Fesperman LeeSalisbury Post
National honor societies from four Rowan County high schools raised $6,000 for cystic fibrosis research during their December pin-up sale.
A local group of volunteers called Team Saving Grace challenged each high school honor society to raise money for the disease.
East Rowan, North Rowan, West Rowan, and Salisbury high schools accepted the challenge.
Laura Hodge organized Team Saving Grace two years ago after her daughter, Grace, now 5 years old, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Honor society members from each participating high school sold pin-ups for $1 apiece that displayed the donor’s name.
Hodge’s group promised a luncheon for honor society that raised the most money per member. The Salisbury High School National Honor Society collected that reward.
Salisbury honor society members sold the most pin-ups, with $19.28 per student.
Organizers said they decided to base the winning group on the money raised per student to level the playing field, since some honor societies were larger than others.
The 83 Salisbury High students and their advisor, Adaria Doran, attended the luncheon catered by Hendrix BBQ on Dec.19.
Food Lion donated the cake and Powles Funeral Home, Greg Edds insurance, Carolina Women’s Health and Godley’s Garden Center sponsored the luncheon.
While the honor societies raised $6,000 on their own, an end-of-the-year matching funds opportunity provided an additional $6,000, taking the total contribution to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to $12,000.
Project organizer Susan Linza said the challenge was a huge first-year success.
‘Thanks to everyone who worked hard to raise this money, to raise awareness and who sponsored this worthwhile cause,” she said.