Hornbeck family pleased with school fund-raiser

By SHAWNNA ROBINSON
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Friday, May 18, 2007
Updated: Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:44 PM CDT

FARMINGTON — Students at Farmington Middle School knew they could make a difference — even if it meant simply wearing a pair of their favorite pajamas to school or donning a hat for the day.

For three days this winter the students paid one dollar for the privilege of wearing such unusual attire. The reason was not just to be comfortable or take it easy for a day. It was to raise money for the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation. After those three days, $1,000 was collected. At an assembly Thursday afternoon, the students presented a check to Craig and Pam Akers, Shawn Hornbeck’s parents.

Shawn was also at the event. It was his first public appearance following a period of time spent out of the public’s eye with his family. By request of his family, Shawn was not photographed or interviewed.

Sam Nickelson is an eighth-grade science teacher at the school. During the assembly she told the students it was the appearance of Shawn and his family on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” that led her to want to help out the foundation, which works in assisting law enforcement to find missing children and also offers safety education.

“I called (Superintendent) Dr. W.L. Sanders at home and told him I wanted to raise money in some way,” she told the seventh and eighth graders.

Nickelson then talked to Middle School Student Council Advisor Nikki Asher. Nickelson said she knew the council would come up with a fun and creative way to raise money.

“I talked to the group about organizing the fund-raiser and they just ran with it. They thought giving the students an opportunity to wear hats or pajamas for one dollar would be a great idea,” Asher recalled.

Adding in donations given from Middle School teachers and others in the district, the group was able to reach the $1,000 goal.

At Thursday’s assembly, many students came dressed in pajamas and hats as they had earlier in the year. Principal Dr. Dorothy Winslow told the students this was a “special day for some special people and a very special family.” She commended the students for making this fund-raiser “not about themselves,” but reaching out to others.

The Akers’ were visibly touched by the support given to the foundation by these students. Student Council President Abby Bender presented the check on behalf of the Student Council.

In the hushed gymnasium, Craig gave his thanks on behalf of his wife and Shawn for the generosity shown by the students at Farmington Middle School. In turn, the couple presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the school from the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation.

Following the ceremony, Craig said through the smallest acts someone can show how much they care. “Just by wearing their pajamas to school one day, a friend might ask, ‘Why did you do that?’ That gives them a chance to say. ‘To help out the foundation that helps kids just like us,’” he said.

Pam said it makes the students aware there are organizations such as the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation which work to bring children home. She was glad Shawn had the chance to see those students who reached out to help the foundation named after him.

Craig said the students often feel helpless when they see stories on the news about a missing child.

“Kids often want to help out when there is a child missing. Because of their age that’s not possible. But when they hold events like this it makes it possible for the foundation to continue its work,” he said.

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