Local Athletes go head-to-head in a battle for North Gwinnett Co-op
BY: Michelle Fasig
On March 30th, football players and cheerleaders from Lanier, North Gwinnett and Buford High Schools got the rare opportunity to compete against each other off the playing field – and all for the benefit of local nonprofit, North Gwinnett Cooperative.
Partnering with local restaurants, Tannery Row Ale House, Friends American Grill Suwanee, and Friends American Grill Buford, each team battled to reign supreme in an annual challenge to raise the most money for North Gwinnett Co-op: an organization that provides food, clothing, utility funding and prescription medication assistance to people in need.
The student athletes took a break from being the stars on the field to trying their hand in food service. Patrons filled the restaurants as athletes worked as greeters, took drink orders, worked the buffet line, cleaned and bussed tables, took up non-perishable food items that were brought, sold raffle tickets and helped present raffle items, and overall created an atmosphere of eagerness and excitement. Attendees additionally got to participate in a 50/50 raffle and silent auction where winners could win or bid on “reserved premium seating to graduation” among other great prizes.
When the evening came to a close, North Gwinnet High School topped the ranks by raising an astonishing sum of $8,000!
Overall, the event was a tremendous success with all three schools raising a combined $15,000. And, North Gwinnett Co-op is tremendously grateful to the 70 students and 75 volunteers that joined together to not only raise much-needed funds, but to drive awareness, and prove that our community truly knows how to come together for a great cause.