A youth service project recently brought the community together to give a helping hand to a local relief agency. 

The annual Thomas County Central High School Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Dodgeball Tournament, held in April, raised approximately $3,500 for Fountain of Life Rescue, Thomas County’s homeless shelter. 

“We were able to raise a lot of money for a good cause,” academy member Sarah Overman said. “It brought our community together to [affect] an awesome impact.”

The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy initiative exists to develop leaders within high schools while teaching them to have a servant attitude toward their community and world. Its motto is “Impact for Action.” 

TCCHS academy members participate in service-learning activities throughout the year, culminating in the spring Impact Project to meet a community need. Students chose the tournament as its impact activity and the rescue as this year’s recipient.

Academy members split into three teams – fundraising, advertising and logistics – and used the skills they learned throughout the year’s monthly leader labs to plan and conduct the project.

“They recruited 16 teams composed of our local recruiters, first responders, and clubs and sports teams from both Thomas County Central High school and Thomas County Middle School,” TCCHS CFALA sponsor Stann McLeod said. “What impressed me the most was their excitement in taking ownership of the project, working as a team, and doing what it took to get all the planned tasks completed.”

Academy member Karsyn Bush said the project truly impacted the community because it tried to involve everyone and benefited a local service agency.

“We worked with our local middle school, clubs and sports teams, military and first responders,” she said. “Not only was everyone invited to join in some way, but our project was also impactful because all of the proceeds and donations went to the Fountain of Life Rescue here in Thomasville.”

Member Jackson McCorkle voiced pride in the project’s successful community mobilization to raise funds for and awareness of a worthy cause.

“We were able to host and make known a small yet important institution within the county in a rather short period, and all those elements within the community that were mobilized are much more aware of that institution than they previously were,” McCorkle said. “Overall, it is our wish that such awareness will equal continued support.”

McLeod said this year’s academy and its Impact Project exceeded his expectations.

“The 24 members were a cross-section of our student body and ranged from freshmen to seniors,” he said. “Together, they not only learned about being a servant leader but also worked together as a team to have a significant impact on their community.”

Members say they’ll never forget the lessons they learned during their time in the academy.

“I learned how to be a better communicator and work with people on group projects,” Overman said. “Along with that, I learned the value of teamwork.”

McCorkle found the idea and practice of servant leadership particularly appealing and said learning it helped him and his teammates with communication, ownership, and accomplishing their goals.

“Initially, I had to adjust to this style of leadership as I was used to functioning in a role that purely gave orders and expected the direct labor to be done by those I was leading,” he said. “However, by more closely associating myself with those people and doing both my leadership role and their roles, I do think that our objectives became easier to accomplish….”

Communication and teamwork are essential skills Bush honed, and she believes academy participation made her a better leader.

“One person certainly cannot do it all, and our program was a perfect example of that,” she said. “Through this program, I learned the definition of true servant leadership and what ‘10 seconds of insane courage’ can do. I have no doubt that the information and skills I learned will be invaluable as I continue on to higher education.”

TCCHS CFALA will make the official check presentation to Fountain of Life Rescue in the near future.