With a mascot costume on the line, students from around the city participated in an online campaign that benefited the United Way of West Central Mississippi.

“Students had the chance to go online to vote for their school to win,” marketing and community relations director for the UWWCM Kami May said, and this week Vicksburg High School was awarded $500 to go towards a new mascot costume.

“It makes me feel good to have funds to purchase a new costume. The current one stinks and the fan is broken inside of it,” the VHS mascot said, adding, “but I love being the mascot, and this money will help me give even more team spirit.”

VHS officials opted not to reveal the name of the individual who serves as the school’s mascot.

The idea to hold a mascot challenge as a way to raise money for the United Way, May said, came up during a campaign cabinet meeting.

“We really wanted to come up with a fun way to raise money for United Way’s Campaign and a way to benefit the schools at the same time,” May said.

“And since some elementary schools don’t even have a mascot costume and the high school costumes haven’t been updated in decades, we thought this was something people could getting behind, and with the bond issue being passed and new renovations coming, we felt it was time to make sure the mascots got a makeover too,” May said. 

The online campaign was open to every school in Vicksburg/Warren County, May said, both public and private, totally 18 schools.

“We sent out flyers and hung posters at the schools with a QR Code and a link posted,” May said. Each vote cost a $1, and “We also could take cash donations and enter the money in as an offline donation,” May said.

VHS raised $340 and after the check was written to VHS, May said, the UWWCM made a profit of $377.

“This challenge really kick-started the overall school campaign for United Way,” May said.

“It was all about building relationships. I feel like this challenge has built a stronger bond between United Way and VWSD and the United Way would like to thank everyone who donated to this effort,” she said.