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Ignite Davie, A College Promise Program, was kicked off at Davie High School Friday, Sept. 27, but it seemed Mother Nature had her own plans for igniting Davie.

In addition to Little League Night, Sept. 27  was Touchdowns for Education night at War Eagle Stadium as 35 businesses and individuals agreed to add $100 to Ignite Davie every time the War Eagles scored a touchdown in the game against A.L. Brown.

By halftime, the War Eagles had scored two touchdowns and the total raised reached $7,000. Following the Davie High Band and Dancing Boots’ performance of “Firework” representatives of the partner organizations along with Phil and Darlene Fuller and Zach Wright, who had made personal commitments, took the field for a half-time announcement.

With the band as a backdrop, Jane Simpson, president Davie Community Foundation, kicked off Ignite Davie to the community followed by Superintendent Jeff Wallace, who encouraged the crowd to Text-2-Give in an effort to meet a challenge by an anonymous donor.

The kickoff ended with the tossing of Ignite Davie t-shirts into the stands.

The donation window and the game were cut short by Mother Nature. With 8:24 left in the fourth quarter, the War Eagles led A.L. Brown 33-29 and four touchdowns had been scored raising the total to $14,000, and the Text-2-Give to $1,040. After two more lightning strikes, the game was delayed until the next day. On Saturday the War Eagles were unable to defeat the Wonders from A.L. Brown, but they did add one more touchdown to bring the total dollars raised to $17,000.

“We are so pleased to be a partner in launching this unique program for Davie students,” said Susan Burleson, vice president of the DCCC Davie Campus. “There was a lot of excitement in the air about Ignite Davie. Our faculty and staff are excited too and look forward to welcoming more Davie residents to DCCC as the Class of 2020 takes advantage of Ignite Davie.”

“Ignite Davie is a college promise program that invests in residents of Davie County,” Simpson said. “Ignite Davie puts education at the center of our community and will ultimately spark the economic vitality of Davie County. It is a place-based last dollar scholarship; which means students must live in, and attend high school in, Davie County.”

Beginning with the Class of 2020, Ignite Davie will pay tuition and fees with a stipend for books for two years for residents to attend either campus of DCCC full-time. Any student in a certificate, associate’s, or college transfer program is eligible.

“Ignite Davie is an extraordinary promise to our children and our community,” she said. “We hope you will join us as we work together to secure the $3 million needed to endow the program for the future. $1.175 million has already been committed to the promise but we need you.”

Donations may be made online through www.daviefoundation.org; through Text-2-Give by texting the word “IGNITE” to 243725; or by mailing a check payable to Davie Community Foundation to Ignite DavieE College Promise, 135 S. Salisbury St., Mocksville. Questions may be directed to Carolyn McManamy at 336-753-6670 or visit the website at IGNITEDAVIE.COM.