EASLEY — The Dream Center was the beneficiary of a recent fundraiser put on by the staff at McKissick Elementary School and attended by community leaders from all across the Upstate.

“It was such a great time,” said McKissick Assistant Principal Anita Richardson. “Many of our students and their families benefit from The Dream Center. It made sense for us to team up.”

The fundraiser, in the form of a volleyball tournament, pitted the McKissick office staff against the teachers but according to Richardson, the odds were slightly stacked in the teachers’ favor.

“We had only one office staff team against three teacher teams — A,B and C,” said Richardson. “We (the office team) lost to “Team A” but then we beat both teams B and C. When we played A again, we won. So, even though we were outnumbered, we were still victorious.”

(Insert obligatory fist pump here.)

Complete with skirts and pom-poms, several community leaders joined in the fun cheering on the players including Easley Fire Chief Butch Womack, Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark, Easley Chief of Police Tim Tollison, City Councilman Kent Dykes and Rep. Neal Collins among others.

SDPC Superintendent Danny Merck acted as line judge and Kaylee Anderson, a senior at Easley High School, refereed the matches.

Ultimately, the real winner was The Dream Center as the fundraiser raised $1,100 for the family assistance and mentoring non-profit organization.

“Now it doesn’t say the correct amount,” warned Richardson as she unwrapped the giant check to present it to Shannon Leatherwood and Chris Wilson. “Donations kept coming in, but I had to get this printed or it wouldn’t have been ready in time!”

Leatherwood and Wilson were shocked.

“You raised that in one night?” exclaimed Leatherwood. “That is amazing. Thank you so, so much.”

The Dream Center opened in May 2012 and has since established itself in the community as a faith based place where families can turn for help.

According to their mission statement, the center’s mentoring program empowers people to make different choices by offering incentives, rewards and guidance in budgeting, money management, parenting and employment.

The organization promotes hard work by utilizing “Dream Dollars,” which can be earned by attending classes or volunteering. Dream Dollars can then in turn be redeemed for items like clothing, gas cards and Christmas assistance.

The real winner of the McKissick Elementary School volleyball tournament was The Dream Center as the fundraiser raised $1,100 for the family assistance and mentoring non-profit organization.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_008.jpgThe real winner of the McKissick Elementary School volleyball tournament was The Dream Center as the fundraiser raised $1,100 for the family assistance and mentoring non-profit organization. Kasie Strickland | The Easley Progress

The McKissick Elementary “Dream Team.”
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_vb1.jpgThe McKissick Elementary “Dream Team.” Kasie Strickland | The Easley Progress

McKissick Physical Education teacher Eric Houston leads the team to the court.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_vb2.jpgMcKissick Physical Education teacher Eric Houston leads the team to the court. Kasie Strickland | The Easley Progress

Complete with skirts and pom-poms, several community leaders joined in the fun, cheering on the players.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_vb3.jpgComplete with skirts and pom-poms, several community leaders joined in the fun, cheering on the players. Kasie Strickland | The Easley Progress

EFD Chief Butch Womack pumps up the crowd as a cheerleader for the recent fundraiser to benefit The Dream Center.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_vb4.jpgEFD Chief Butch Womack pumps up the crowd as a cheerleader for the recent fundraiser to benefit The Dream Center. Kasie Strickland | The Easley Progress
Fundraiser benefits Dream Center

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.