Frank Falls, 1994

When Frank began working with seniors in 2008, he wanted them to learn the importance of stewardship, so he challenged his class to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To motivate his students, Frank promised them he would grow a beard as long as they continued to raise funds for the project. As Frank's beard continued to grow, the 2008 class focused on the project and raised $3,200.00 in the first year of the project. The following year, Frank expanded the challenge and told students he would ride a moped to Memphis, Tennessee and deliver the money to St. Jude's if the students could raise $6,200 - $10.00 for every mile between Clover and Memphis. The 2009 students were excited about the challenge and set out selling t-shirts and stickers. They held pizza contests, set up booths at local events, and eventually raffled the moped. By the end of the year, the students had raised $13,000.00 and "Moped to Memphis" was born.

Students in 2010 continued their fundraising efforts and added an event that community members would come to enjoy each year - the womanless beauty pageant. With the addition of the pageant, students were able to raise $30,000.00. A Second Chance Prom was added in 2013 and students were able to add $54,000.00 to St. Jude. That year, during the trip to St. Jude, a patient gave those attending a tour of the hospital. This patient and the tour became a true inspiration for the campaign and when the patient passed away in 2012, a boot drive was added in his honor. In addition to the boot drive, a Little Miss and Master Moped pageant was also held and the students raised a grand total of $99,000.00 that year.

Hoping to continue to increase funds, the 2013 class added a rock concert and a golf tournament to the list of fundraisers, raising $85,000.00 to the mounting total. It would be the class of 2019 that would tie the record high by raising $99,000.00 again.

Students in the 2016 class wanted to do something a little different, so they designed a cuddly moped monkey named "Memphis." Memphis was an instant success, and the students decided that for each monkey sold, one would be given to a child at St. Jude. This class broke all records, raising $127,500.00 that year.

Each year, students have continued to raise funds for St. Jude, and to date $831,000.00 has been raised. Frank's goal has always been to raise $1,000,000.00 by the end of 2020, and he is well on his way. What an amazing learning experience and adventure this project has been. The Clover Schools Alumni Association is proud to highlight Frank Falls. For more information about Moped to Memphis, visit their website.