School donates snowman contest winnings back to Libertyville group
Butterfield School's Olympic-themed snowman won first place in the communitywide "Snowmen on Parade" contest, and the school will donate part of the prize money back to MainStreet Libertyville.
Twelve 5-foot tall, factory made, wire-framed snowmen were decorated in a contest called "Snowmen on Parade," which was sponsored by MainStreet Libertyville. MainStreet is a downtown revitalization group.
Each of the five Libertyville District 70 schools decorated a snowman, with Butterfield's "Buddy," a snow skiing snowman, winning first place and Rockland School's military snowman coming in second.
"The Butterfield community thoroughly enjoyed participating in 'Snowmen on Parade,' " said Principal Candice Kehoe. "We can't begin to thank downtown Libertyville enough for the excitement, school spirit and pride this contest generated."
Butterfield was presented with a check for $500 for the first place award.
"We're very proud of Buddy, our snowman," said Lori Pressley, president of the Butterfield Family Association, which took on the snowman-building project. "We worked very hard on him."
Butterfield will use $250 of the prize money to buy a new video camera that students use for morning TV announcements "where Buddy first appeared," Pressley said, adding that Assistant Principal Andy Elbert did the voice-over work for Buddy. "It's only fitting that he give back to the students who made him so famous."
The family association will donate the other $250 back to MainStreet.
"It's our way of saying thanks," she added.
Once decorated, the 12 snowmen were "on parade" in front of downtown Libertyville stores and businesses. At that time, people voted on their favorite snowman. There also was an online auction to help find homes for the snowmen. The Butterfield Frosty was adopted by Kathryn and Jeff McClurg. The Rockland Frosty will be donated to the Veterans Affairs Hospital. The Copeland Manor snowman was adopted by Mary and Michael Nelson.
Other groups invited to decorate a snowman included the Art Club and the Girls' Lacrosse Team at Libertyville High School, St. Johns Lutheran School, St. Joseph School, Oak Grove Junior High School (which finished third), David Adler Music and Arts Center and the Libertyville Junior Woman's Club.