A Blast From the Past: Would You Eat a Worm? (June 2012)
FundRaising Success published its first issue in November 2003, which makes this our 10-year anniversary year. To celebrate, we'll be taking a look back at past issues throughout the year.
What is it about swallowing bugs that is so darn funny? One of my favorite movie scenes of all times is the uppity socialite Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn) riding in the back of good ol’ boy Dean Proffitt’s (Kurt Russell) pickup truck in the movie “Overboard” and declaring with her upper-crust elocution, “I just … ate … a bug.”
Funny, right? So of course this headline got my attention: “Worm Snack Price for Fundraiser Success.” It seems Troy Reehl, the principal at Farrand Elementary School in Plymouth, Mich., at the time, agreed to eat a worm if students raised at least $10,000 in the school’s annual Farrand Fox Trot fundraiser to benefit its Parent Teacher Organization.
Admittedly, $10,000 was a pretty high goal for a bunch of kids raising funds through simple solicitation, doing chores and other activities. But apparently one should never underestimate the power of worm-eating to motivate children. Check out my June 2012 Editor's Note, "Would You Eat a Worm?"