Peeples Elementary won top honors in the 19th annual Fayette Youth Power Parade, a walk-a-thon held in Fayette County elementary schools Mar. 29 through Apr. 2. The school came in first place and raised $7,391.10 for Fayette Youth Protection Homes, a local non-profit organization which provides shelter and support for children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect. The organization operates a residential group home, the Friday-Johnson Home, as well as a private foster care program and a clothing resource center, Gracie’s Closet, for foster children living on the south side of metro Atlanta.
“I was very excited by the number of students participating in this year’s Power Parade, ” said PE Coach Michelle Binkley who led the school’s winning efforts. “It has been an honor to help the children at the Friday-Johnson Home any way I can.”
The Grand Prize winner of a trip for four to Disney World, was Chris Sellers, a fifth grader from Peeples Elementary who brought in $1,985, the most money of any child in the county. Other students who took top prizes in the county were Emily Cushing, a 3rd grader from Peeples who won 2nd place and raised $1,250. Emily’s sister, Michaela, a 5th grader from Peeples raised $500 and came in third place in the county.
Becky Davenport, Executive Director of Fayette Youth Protection Homes, summed up the Parade. She said, “We are very grateful for the support we get from the community, the schools, and the students in this event. The Power Parade plays a big part in our ability to provide a safety net for these vulnerable children in need of our care.”
