(Above) Eagle for Life founder, Mitch Bierman, accepts a donation from the employees of Norris Electric, who raised a combined total of $1,000 through internal fundraisers in the week leading up to Eagle for Life Giving Day 2018. (L-R: Kelly Hinterscher, Mitch Bierman, Claude Wilson, and Becky Kocher)
With the generous support of the Newton community, the Eagle for Life Foundation exceeded its original fundraising goal of $15,000 and raised a total of $16,828.35 during its 24-hour day of giving on March 23. The money raised will be granted to Newton Elementary School for the purchase of a new sound system for the gymnasium and will contribute to the purchase of new playground equipment. Eagle for Life Foundation founder Mitch Bierman says he was unsure of what to expect from the day of giving. “We live in a generous community, but for many people, the day of giving concept is still a new one. We weren’t sure what the response from the community would be and we are blown away by the outpouring of donations we received.”
Day of Giving donors included NCHS alumni, community members, and local businesses, as well as future Newton Eagles, as committee member Amy Tarr explains, “We had an amazing response from our elementary and junior high students. We asked them to donate their loose change and pay to participate in “hat day” and the response was overwhelming.” Students at the elementary school raised $835.16 and the junior high students raised $821.19. “These children are our future and they are excited to be involved in these projects. They demonstrate what it means to be an Eagle for Life,” adds Tarr.
Those donors who gave on March 23 were entered to win prize packages throughout the day. The winners include Carole Roberts, John Hayes, Jamie Baltzell, Jeff Miller, and Suzy Steber. In addition, all donors who gave $50 or more received a free Eagle for Life t-shirt and those who gave $100 or more were entered into a grand prize drawing for St. Louis Cardinals tickets, donated by PS Realty. Claude and Sandra Wilson were the grand prize winners.
The Eagle for Life Foundation advisory committee thanks the following Platinum Eagle Sponsors for their matching donations: Dieterich Bank, Dynegy, Peoples State Bank, and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Newton Clinic. The committee also thanks the following sponsors for their support: WIKK, WCRC, Pizza Man, Brett and Lori Tarr, Newton Elite Fitness, NCHS Ag Department, Casey’s General Store, Rauch’s Jewelry, PS Realty, Hartrich’s Meats, and Martin’s IGA.
The Eagle for Life Foundation was established by Mitch Bierman in 2017 as his Jasper CEO class business and consists of two funds: the Eagle for Life Endowment, to act as a savings account for future needs, and the Eagle for Life School Improvement Fund to raise money annually for projects within the Jasper County Unit School District 1. Members of the Eagle for Life School Foundation advisory committee are Mitch Bierman, June Bierman, Gabe Fulton, Kyle Klier, Ed Kocher, Anthony Richards, Lora Short, Todd Short, Amy Tarr and Korie Tucker.
Special thanks to our Platinum Eagle Sponsors:
