Senior Brighton Toland roams around the courtyard looking for a new shirt to rep her favorite Bowie team. Glancing around, she sees her fellow students laughing with their friends and showing their Bulldawg pride. Every year, Bowie holds their annual fundraiser “Bulldogs and Hotdogs”. Bowie classes, clubs, and teams set up booths with games and activities to raise money and support for their group.
Students have the opportunity to volunteer at their clubs’ booth. Senior Brighton Toland helped fundraise for Starlight Theater Company at their booth.
“The best part of Bulldogs and Hotdogs to me is getting to meet so many new people and see new faces. I wanted to participate in Bulldogs and Hotdogs because I love meeting new people and representing my company as a leader,” Toland said.
Throughout the afternoon, students and parents walk around by all the booths to purchase things from merchandise to snowcones to support Bowie clubs and teams. Some clubs raised money by offering activities at their booths like bobbing for rubber ducks and spin the wheel games. The Starlight Theater Company offered face painting to people attending Bulldogs and Hotdogs.
“I did face paint for my booth. Our booth did attract a lot of people because it’s face paint and kids love face paint,” Toland said. “There were some people at the front who were with the money box and the popcorn and if you wanted face paint you told them and you paid then you got In line for face paint.”
I believe the turnout was good. Everyone is having the time of their life because you’re surrounded by friends.
— Brighton Toland
Like the Starlight theater company, Besa Carney and the Bowie Band used art to raise money by selling custom signs with faces on them to parents and students.
“This year they were selling signs that have the director’s faces on it, and one of the director’s dogs, “ Carney said. “This year [the money] is for our trip this November to Indianapolis.”
Another booth at Bulldogs and Hotdogs was the Bowie Swim and Dive team. Junior Harriet Lewis volunteered at the booth and helped with the activity.
“We were selling bushes and shirts and also had a duck pond where you can win prizes,” Lewis said.
The main contributors and donors at Bulldogs and Hotdogs are the Bowie parents. Many parents are involved in booster clubs for teams and clubs.
“The parents were very helpful and we appreciate that,” Lewis said.
Bowie students also come out and support their friends and classmates by participating in activities and buying food and merchandise. Everyone being outside, doing fun activities, and eating good food creates a positive and exciting atmosphere for everyone involved.
“The energy of bulldogs and hotdogs is fun and happy,” Toland said. “I 100% think students were into it.”
