Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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Principal Chief Chad Smith with students and instructors of the Vocational Education Program of the Cherokee Nation.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Parents of four-year olds in a Cherokee Nation Head Start class have developed a unique fund-raiser like none the Cherokee Nation has ever seen.

The parents of children in Cherokee Nation’s Igali Head Start class have made puppets from donated socks to raise awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, in April, and National Foster Care Parent Month, in May. The Igali parents are taking the puppets on the road to raise money. Individuals can either pay child support for a puppet or adopt a puppet, with the proceeds going to the children's end of the year activities.

"If you pay child support, you don't have custody so the kids get that puppet back", said Reva Crawford, an Igali grandparent and the fund-raiser chairperson for the class. "If you adopt, you can either keep the puppet or donate it back to the kids."

"The fund raiser supports the kids activities, provides volunteers, in kind, for Head Start, provides a cash match for Head Start from the adoption fees, all while raising awareness of support for children", Crawford said. "The time volunteers spend making the puppets, is matched for volunteer time at the Head Start."

The Business Education students in the Vocational Education Program gave a helping hand to the parents by helping make the sock-puppets.

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671