In the past three months, the campaign to raise funds to erase the Les Cheneaux Community Schools' projected $99,000 budget revenue deficit has raised more than $22,773. Campaign Chair Brianna Freel said it has been challenging at times, but she expects the remaining 80% of the total to be easier to raise.

"I would like to exceed the expectation. My goal is to not meet, but beat, the expectation," she said. "We're going to try to make the events big enough so that they can become annual events that people will want to participate in next year."

Campaign organizer Amy Smith said organizers are trying to offer something in return to the public for their donations, through raffles and contests, instead of just flat-out asking for money. She believes it's easier for people to donate to the cause if they feel like there is a possibility to get something in return.

Fundraisers that are being organized for the next six months are expected to raise about half of the overall goal of the campaign. Three already underway include a birdhouse raffle, an all terrain vehicle (ATV) raffle, and a pike and perch fishing derby this weekend.

Tickets are available for both the birdhouse and ATV raffles at participating local businesses for $10 and $25, respectively. Birdhouse raffle winners will be announced at halftime during the Thursday, March 5, Cedarville High School varsity boys basketball game. Winners of the ATV raffle, which is expected to raise about $5,000, will be announced at the school Drama Club performance of "Grease" Saturday, May 2. A sock hop fundraiser sponsored by Fund the Future campaign will follow the performance.

The fishing derby will take place Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, on Musky Bay with two top prizes of $300 and a new ice shanty. Pre-registration forms for the fishing derby are available at Cedarville Schools, U.P. State Credit Union in Cedarville, Cedar Pantry, St. Ignace Ace Hardware, St. Ignace Farmer's Insurance, and Wilderness Treasures in Pickford. Registration is $25 for adults, $10 for children younger than 12, and $50 for families.

But the big-ticket item expected to draw the most money is a raffle for a 2009 Dodge pickup truck, provided by O'Connors Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep of Pickford. The details of the raffle, including the price of tickets, are still being finalized, Mrs. Freel said. Tickets are expected to go on sale in April, and the winner will be announced in August during the Les Cheneaux Islands Wooden Boat Show. The raffle is expected to raise between $30,000 and $40,000 for the campaign, she said.

Organizers are trying to plan fundraisers that coincide with popular events, like the school play and summer boat festival.

"We're trying to get people already doing things that they enjoy, and then give them some incentive to participate. Basically we're just trying to promote the community," Mrs. Freel said.

Other fundraisers on the drawing board include organizing spring break events for students and families not traveling during the break, summer boating tours, and kayaking events.

The primary goal of the campaign is to raise funds to cover this year's projected deficit, said organizer Lisa Dunn, and beyond that is unknown, however, it is likely that the district will face a shortfall in next year's budget, which can be attributed, in part, to a decrease in state funding.

State funding won't be cut as much as recently expected, though. About $1.3 billion in federal stimulus money will be coming to Michigan to fund school districts, colleges, and universities. This funding will eliminate proposed cuts in state education funding, which would have reduced state funding to the Cedarville district by about $18,000.

The district is working to restructure next year's budget to avoid any subsequent deficits, Mrs. Dunn said. The campaign is also seeking long-term solutions to solve the district's funding problems through increasing student enrollment, cutting operating costs, and influencing state funding policies.

"Fundraising is very difficult in these times, but our community is very dedicated," she said. "We want to do everything we can in terms of long-term stability."

Ongoing fundraising efforts that are generating smaller dollar amounts include Fund the Future T-shirts. Featuring the campaign slogan "Failure is not an option," with a Trojans head, they are available at the school and U.P. State Credit Union for $8 to $12 depending on size. Also, $1 donations are being made by Ang-Gio's Restaurant for each pizza order it receives on Wednesdays. Bake sales and penny collection jars are being offered in the schools, bottle and can collections are underway, and the sale of $1 green Trojans blocks is ongoing at many Les Cheneaux area businesses.

For more information about organizing, sponsoring, or volunteering in the Fund the Future campaign, contact the schools, Brianna Freel or Amy Smith at 484-3099, or Lisa Dunn at 484-6807.