The 14th annual

Fayette County Power Parade has raised $15,000 to benefit the Youth Protection

Homes in the county.

Judge Martha

Stephenson, honorary chair of the 2003 event, said that "in spite

of difficult economic times, over 500 school children generated $15,000

for the use in helping abused children in Fayette County.

"Though

it was $4,000 short of last year's results, nevertheless we are so proud

of the children who worked so hard to help us. School students, teachers

and the whole community joined in this effort because they know the problem

of child abuse knows no economic boundaries," she said.

For the third

year in a row, Peeples Elementary received awards for the school with

the highest participation in the Parade. Kedron Elementary came in second,

and the next highest schools, in order of achievement, were Sara Harp

Minter, Braelinn, and Cleveland elementaries.

Top honors

for individual students were to Jordan Zehren of Cleveland Elementary,

who won tickets to an Atlanta Braves game; Rachael Pierce, Kedron; Dezmond

Staples, Sara Harp Minter; Samantha Clark, North Fayette; and Tim Rayman,

Peachtree City Elementary. Runners-up received tickets to Dixieland Fun

Park.

Sportime International,

Pizza Hut of Peachtree City and Johnny's Pizza also donated prizes. Everyone

who collected $25 or more received a T-shirt with the design by Tommy

Turner, an art student at Fayette County High School.

This year's

event brought the total donations raised in Fayette County to $185,000

with the beneficiaries going to the Asden Johnson and Jim Friday homes.

They are located

in Fayette County and are nonprofit group homes for abused and neglected

children. The combined facilities house 16 children for extended care

with four additional beds for emergencies.