SHS FBLA, under Evan Nottingham’s Leadership, Sponsors Successful Christmas CASA Kids Gift Project

December 19, 2016

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Under the guidance and leadership of the SHS FBLA project chairman, Seward High Junior-Evan Nottingham, the SHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) co- sponsored a toy drive to collect gifts and toys for local CASA children in the Greater Seward area.  Nottingham wanted to have a toy drive as his community service project to be an Eagle Scout and he knew he needed to team up with a local organization to make the project happen.  The project was co-sponsored by Evan for his Eagle Scout project.  He approached CASA, which agreed to the project but still needed a sponsoring organization, and then he approached the SHS FBLA and their sponsor Mr. Wade Miller, who agreed to co-sponsor the project with Nottingham. 

Together the SHS FBLA, under the leadership of the project chair, Nottingham put the project together in time for Christmas 2016!  Nottingham created two informative Christmas trees with the information on each CASA child-including the ages and the sex of each CASA sponsored child and placed one tree in the CASA office in downtown Seward and one tree in Mr. Miller’s classroom for the FBLA and students of SHS.  As a result, over 100 gifts were collected, specifically addressing at least one gift for each child involved win the CASA program.  The FBLA and Nottingham appealed to the students at Seward High, and as a result, individual students and entire classes decided to sponsor CASA children. In one week’s time, over 100 gifts and toys were collected for the CASA children.  Also, some toys that were collected for the Rotary Club’s “Stuff the Crusier” toy campaign were donated to the project!

Nottingham’s local Boy Scout Troop, Troop 772, then sorted the toys, wrapped the toys and saw to it that each CASA sponsor was given the gifts to share with their CASA child and family.  This project involved almost 40 CASA children in the process!

“I could not believe the out pouring and generosity of the Seward Community, my Boy Scout Troop, my Family and Seward High with this project” declared Evan Nottingham, local project chair.  “This project exemplifies all the good in people in Seward and that people of all ages really do care about others! Indeed, it is what Christmas is all about-caring and helping!”

“We are glad the FBLA could take a leadership role in this effort to assist others, stated advisor Wade Miller.  “Leadership and Caring are two of the pillars of FBLA and this project fits so well with the mission of our group FBLA.  We appreciated how the students of SHS stepped up to help the CASA program and assist Evan with his Eagle Scout project!  Thank you SHS and Seward Community!”

The toys were distributed in time for Christmas and Evan is now planning his Eagle Scout awards ceremony-which he reports will not take near as much planning and involvement as did his community service endeavor!