Peeples Elementary School outpaced Braelinn Elementary by a very small margin in donations to the 2000 Fayette Youth Protection Home Power Parade.

Braelinn had been the front-runner for three years, but this year Peeples surged ahead.

“We always support this event because it is a wonderful local service for children in need,” said Peeples Principal Sandra Watson.

The individual child with the highest contributions was 5-year-old Jeffrey Hannah, a kindergartner at Peeples. Jeffrey, son of Ron and Kris Hannah of Fayetteville, said his strategy was to campaign at his father's place of business. Jeffrey and three friends watched a Braves game as his reward for his accomplishment.

Employees of Southern Crescent Mortgage, along with some supportive grandparents, came through for abused children served by the Jim Friday and Asden Johnson homes in Fayette County. Peeples students received an assortment of software for their efforts, compliments of AIS Computers in Fayetteville.

Students participated in the power walks in their physical education classes, and those who collected $25 or more in pledges received Power 2000 t-shirts designed by Bonnie Webb, a junior at Fayette County High School.

The fund-raiser, in its 11th year, is endorsed and supported by the Fayette County Board of Education.

Local businesses help defray expenses and offer prizes to classes with the highest participation. Prizes this year included Baskin Robbins ice cream, Pizza Hut and CiCi's pizza parties, giant cookies from Cookies to You, and tickets to DixieLand Fun Park.

Debra Friday, PE teacher at Peeples, was rewarded with a sapphire and diamond ring from Mercer Jewelers.

Fayette Youth Protection Home Inc. is the nonprofit corporation that owns the Johnson Home and the Friday Home. The combined facilities house 16 children for extended care with four additional spaces for emergencies.