Biz Facebook contest to raise funds for local schools

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Published on 02/01/2012 - 8:49 am

Written by Michael Kincheloe

Cherry Avenue Auction's Facebook page.Cherry Avenue Auction will donate more than $20,000 to local elementary schools while allowing members of the community to decide which school will receive the money.

Every year, Cherry Avenue Auction donates to local schools, and starting Thursday, Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. they will donate $1 to select elementary schools for every “like” they receive on their Facebook page until $20,000 is reached. The school with the most votes will be given an additional $1,000.

“We wanted to utilize our Facebook page and the social media,” said Neil Burson, co-owner of Cherry Avenue Auction. “We said, ‘Let’s give the community a chance to put their money up.’”

After someone clicks “like” on the Facebook page, they can select the specific school they want the money to go to, and they will have the option of making an additional donation of a dollar or more. Cherry Avenue Auction hopes that individuals and businesses will also make personal contributions that will considerably increase the funding.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity, because it gives the user the choice of clicking on the school they want the donation to go to,” said Jim Yovino, deputy superintendent for the Fresno County Office of Education. “It’s an opportunity to spread it all around.”

Cherry Avenue Auction is Fresno’s oldest and largest outdoor shopping market. It opened for business during the 1920s, primarily as a cattle auction, and after a while vendors began to set up shop in rows at various places around the auction, selling locally grown produce and a variety of household items. The swap meet portion eventually grew to the extent that it became the sole business at the auction site.

A total of 98 elementary schools in six Fresno County school districts will be included in the program, covering all elementary schools in Fresno Unified, Central Unified, Sanger Unified, Fowler Unified, Orange Center and Washington Colony Elementary School Districts.

“We’d really like to see some community momentum behind this great fundraising contest,” Larry L. Powell, superintendent of schools for Fresno County said in a statement. “If everyone clicking ‘like’ gave just a dollar of their own money, that would double the fundraising effort.”

Those who participate in the voting may also select individual school programs they want their donation to go to: academic, athletics, agriculture/sciences, arts or area of greatest need. The Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/CherryAvenueAuction. One vote per fan is allowed.

Burson said that in previous years, Cherry Avenue Auction generally donated to Future Farmers of America, 4H and other programs. As the father of three daughters, he decided that using the social media could result in a win-win situation. Family members who have a nephew or cousin at a particular school could donate directly to the arts or whatever program they choose.

“We’re looking forward to local businesses getting involved,” Burson said. “Hopefully, it goes viral really quick.”