In an article from the fall 2015 edition of Safari Magazine, published quarterly by the Toledo Zoo, Notre Dame Marist 7th grader Liz Scheer’s efforts to adopt an elephant with a swim-a-thon are highlighted.
SWIM-A-THON — Exercise for Elephants
(From Safari Magazine – Toledo Zoo)
It's an understatement to say Liz Scheer loves elephants. She has elephant print clothing, accessories and a room full of stuffed elephants in all sizes and colors. She has even impressed elephant trainers with her extensive knowledge. Her love affair began when dad, Dan, returned from a snowmobiling trip with a blue stuffed elephant she named Lumpy. "I think a lot of people think elephants are clumsy and ugly, but I think they are beautiful and graceful,” gushed Liz.
It still came as a shock when Liz, then 11, announced she wanted to raise $1,000 to adopt an elephant through the Toledo Zoo's Zoo PAL program. The idea stemmed from trip to the Zoo last summer when Liz saw the Zoo PAL sign on the gorilla exhibit. She quickly questioned if it was possible to adopt her favorite animal. After a few online clicks, Liz and her family began formulating a plan. Because of the four-digit price tag, Liz's parents, Dan and Sue, made her a deal. If she could raise $500, they would match her earnings to fulfill the sponsorship price.
The family tossed around ideas of how Liz could raise the money, including dog walking, selling duct-tape flower pens and leaf raking. The pitfall was the time commitment necessary to raise $500. Liz's other passion, swimming, came to her rescue. She organized a personal swim-a-thon through her swim team, the Romeo Dolphins, with the lofty goal of raising the entire $1,000 on her own. She asked family and friends for pledges based on the number of laps completed. The family shared a laugh remembering how many donors underestimated the number of laps Liz could swim in the allotted 90 minutes. "I started calling friends back saying you might not want to donate $1 per lap, maybe just 50 cents,” said Sue.
Liz thrived on it: "It worked to my advantage.”
In total, Liz swam 116 1aps (one mile breast stroke and the rest free-style) and raised $1,050, enough to adopt her elephant and a penguin, for her younger brother, Luke. Her family and friends couldn't be more proud of her, even if they were a bit skeptical at first.
"I am surprised she pulled it off. I wasn't sure she would follow all the way through but she was really committed and did a great job, said her father. "l'm really proud of her, she had a plan and stuck with it.”
“She showed great dedication to her sport and her passion. She set a goal and followed through,” said older sister, Christine.
"I am very proud of and impressed by her,” expressed older brother, Joe. Luke added: ”l think it's really great that she did something for the zoo and her sport.”
In the future, Liz hopes to "do something with animals or history, maybe be an archeologist or zoologist. Mom Sue worries Liz will spend her life running from poachers to save her beloved elephants.
"I just really like elephants. I don't have a favorite at the Zoo but baby Lucas is really fun. I get really upset about poaching and this was my way of helping it a little,” Liz said.
Great job, Liz! Our elephants give your efforts four trunks up!
For more information or to become a Zoo PAL please visit toledozoo.org/zoopal
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.