Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 29, 1995 TAG: 9511290077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Seth Wood said it was like life.
"You have a little bit of success and a lot of rejections," said Wood, a senior at Northside High School.
Wood was among 35 high school students from Roanoke County who helped raise money for student scholarships, remedial programs and international education for students and faculty.
For two hours Tuesday night, the students staffed the telephones at Central Fidelity National Bank in downtown Roanoke, asking Roanoke Valley residents for donations.
They hoped to raise more than $5,200.
The students came from each of the county's four high schools - Cave Spring, Glenvar, Northside and William Byrd.
The students volunteered their time, but student organizations will benefit from their efforts. The clubs will receive 10 percent of the funds.
The rest will go to the Roanoke County Public Schools Foundation, which provides scholarships for those needing financial assistance and funds for several other programs.
Garland Kidd, director of vocational and adult education for county schools, said the phone-a-thon has gradually expanded since it began three years ago. The first year, the foundation raised $3,200; the second year, $3,800; and last year, $5,200.
Melanie Davis, a Glenvar sophomore, said she participated in the phone-a-thon last year and volunteered again because it was fun.
"Most people are nice when you call them, even if they don't give anything," Davis said. The largest contribution she received last year was $75.
Natalie Newman, a senior at Cave Spring, said some students volunteer because it helps them meet their community service requirements. Newman belongs to the Beta Club, which requires 10 hours of community service a year.
Kate McCarty, a senior at William Byrd, said she received several $20 and $25 donations last year.
Alison Price, a sophomore at Glenvar, estimated that about half of the people she called made a contribution.
The bank permits the foundation to use its executive offices and phones for the fund-raising event. Monty Plymale, president of the bank's Southwestern Region, is a member of the foundation's board of trustees.
The foundation was established four years ago to help supplement the county's educational programs. The contributions, which are tax deductible, are not intended to replace public revenues for education. The use of the contributions must be approved by the board of trustees, chosen from the business community.
by CNB