Carl the Pig and McVay Principal Jim Swain thrilled their young audience as they exchanged a smooch during the McVay’s February PRIDE assembly.
February 14th was a Valentine’s Day McVay Elementary School Principal Jim Swain will not likely forget. Neither will Carl the Pig. The school recently finished a fund drive for the Happy Trails Animal Sanctuary in Raveena, Ohio, as part of their One School One Book adventure with Charlotte’s Web. This farm rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes criminally abused, neglected and abandoned farm animals. McVay set a goal of raising $500 to donate to Happy Trails. Youngsters turned in money each day for different events such as Pep for Piggies, Pajama Day, Dress to Impress, Wear Red to Show our Love for Animals, and McVay Spirit Day. Children could put their money in one of three educator bins labeled Principal Jim Swain, Assistant Principal Jason Fullen, or Guidance Counselor Jennifer Verdina. If the students hit their goal of donating $500, the person whose bin collected the most money promised to kiss a real pig during the February PRIDE assembly. McVay ended up raising $536.83 and Jim Swain was the “lucky” winner. Carl, a potbellied pig, was rescued from a farm in Kentucky that was hoarding more than 500 animals. After three months of intensive rehabilitation, a local family in Westerville adopted him. Learn more about Happy Trails at https://happytrailsfarm.org/.