Free Communities coordinator outlines fundraising plan for Nashville youth conference

Julie Burns, Free Communities project coordinator, told the Jackson County Board of Supervisors May 20 that the program plans to take 10 youth to a national conference in Nashville and has fundraising and partner support to cover most travel costs.

Costs and fundraising: Burns said the trip’s total cost will be about $15,000. The program’s travel line in the budget holds about $11,000; staff and students have fundraising plans to cover the balance. "The total cost is gonna be around 15,000... the kids currently have 6,000 that they fundraise and they have 3 more fundraisers before we go. Their goal is 9,000," Burns said. She added that students who submitted to present at midyear received free registration and hotel credits worth about $4,500, and that additional fundraising and donated bus support reduce per-student cost.

Transportation and partners: the county will share a charter bus with the Comanche DeWitt Coalition; a partner contributed $2,100 toward the bus cost. Burns said the group prefers the bus to flights for cost and logistics reasons. "By the time you throw an airport parking and all that stuff, the bus is gonna cost a thousand dollars out of the kids budget, and I'm gonna get 10 people to Nashville for a thousand dollars. That's a way better deal," she told supervisors.

Chaperones: Burns listed chaperones and local parents who will accompany the group and said schools provided transportation support for other local conferences, reducing grant expenditures.

Board reaction: supervisors encouraged the group to present a summary after the trip and thanked staff for pursuing low-cost options and partnering with neighboring counties.