Orange Grove teacher benefits from sweepstakes win

There were two winners in the Somerton Elementary School District Tuesday when the Horace Mann Companies awarded the first of its nationwide "Win $ Win" sweepstakes.

"I've been working for Horace Mann for 18 years and it does a wonderful job for educators and education," said Kerri McArthur, Yuma insurance agent.

Chris Fermanis, a physical education teacher at the Orange Grove Elementary School, was the lucky winner of $500. He was selected among 75 entrants who entered the sweepstakes in Yuma County.

Orange Grove is also benefiting from Fermanis' win, as he is required to donate half of the prize money to the school.

Fermanis said he may ask students what should be done with the money.

"I haven't really thought about it but we could use some extra soccer, volley and basketballs. It's an amazing experience in these times that there are still companies out there willing to help schools achieve their goals."

Horace Mann will award $64,000 in its sweepstakes that started July 15 and runs until Oct. 15. Top prize is $20,000, with another eight prizes of $2,000, 16 prizes of $1,000, and 24 prizes of $500.

"Education needs lots of support and we've donated scholarships, given away bicycles and sponsored teacher appreciation days," McArthur said.

All school employees are eligible but they must first contact a Horace Mann agent to get their "coded card." Once employees have their card, they log on to www.horacemann.com and click on the "Win $ Win" icon. Names are selected at random from the database of entrants.

McArthur said currently, schools are in need of many supplies and Horace Mann has exerted numerous efforts over the years to assist them. In particular, a $175 award was given to Carver School last year to buy a projector, she recalled.

"I just hope we can give away more prizes, especially since schools are getting money taken away and employees' income is decreasing."

But school employees "had to be in it in order to win it," Fermanis said. It was simple to enter: "Just log on and push send," he added. Nevertheless, he was surprised he was selected and it was wonderful to celebrate a competition where there was nothing to lose and everything to gain, he said.

Under the present economic conditions, it is nice that Horace Mann could pitch in to help out with all the cutbacks and the programs that were recently lost, he said.

Orange Grove Principal Connie Zepeda praised Horace Mann for recognizing teachers and offering them an incentive to help out their own schools.

The Horace Mann award will also supplement two other recent windfalls that will support physical education. The Yuma Regional Medical Foundation's Youth Initiative has just provided a "walking club." This furnishes funds to purchase pedometers to keep track of miles walked and is aimed to encourage students and parents to exercise together, she explained.

There was also a federal grant that will provide Orange Grove with fresh fruits and vegetables twice a week in a campaign designed to encourage students to eat a more nutritionally balanced diet.

Zepeda said she was very pleased how the sweepstakes was proceeding.

"It went to the right person and to the right school. We could use it (money) for our playground supplies because we haven't got much out there and Chris is excited about it, too."