The McKinney Christian Academy 2nd Graders presented a check in the amount of $1,616.12 to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) representative Lori Greer during the Lower School chapel on Monday, March 14th.  The 2nd graders raised the money for CASA by selling Val-O-Grams during lunch the week prior to Valentine's Day.  The valentines were sold for .25 each.  Lori Greer, Development Director with CASA of Collin County said the money raised would be used to help others advocate for kids that are in crisis.  The 2nd grade classes, led by teachers Lori Shackelford and Denise Francis have sold Val-O-Grams for seven straight years to support a local charity.

Beginning on Monday, February 8th through February 11th, the second graders designed Val-O-Grams to be sold during the Lower School lunches.  The Val-O-Grams then had candy attached, and were distributed throughout the MCA campus.  This year approximately 6,500 were sold, for a total of $1,616.12 to be donated to CASA.  Teacher Laurie Shackelford came up with the service project idea, and has watched it grow over the years.  Other non-profits that have benefited from the valentines sale include Samaritan Inn and N'Sync Wildlife Refuge.

McKinney Christian Academy strives to teach students to live a life of service, and this project just further teaches them to be living witnesses of and for Almighty God.

MCA is located at 3601 Bois D'Arc Road, McKinney, Texas.  For a tour of the campus contact Melodie Bajema at 214-544-2658 ext. 4325 or Melodie.Bajema@mckinneychristian.org.