On Saturday, April 23, 2022 Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) and the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation (LOAF) hosted their annual fundraising event, Denim & Diamonds at Collins Farm in Greensboro, GA. The event attracted over 500 attendees who gathered to enjoy a night filled with good friends, good food, good times, and an incredible amount of generosity. From ticket sales, sponsorships, and raffles to the silent and live auctions, Denim & Diamonds raised over $265,000 for the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation this year! This achievement marks the largest amount of funds ever raised by one single LOA benefit event.

“What an experience! When the opportunity to be a part of Denim & Diamonds presented itself, I was both scared and excited at the same time,” said Teresa Sitler, 2022 Denim & Diamonds Co-Chair. “My fears were easily overcome by my love for the students and staff at LOA. I am beyond proud of what we accomplished and how the event benefits our school. Sure, it was a lot of hard work, but compared to what LOA pours into our kids daily, it was absolutely worth it. We are One Titan and by coming together, we can accomplish amazing things. Looking forward to what comes next!”

Denim & Diamonds was largely made possible by a team of volunteers made up of business owners, community members, LOA faculty, and parents. They devoted many hours of their time in preparation, including set-up of the venue and silent auction, hand-made centerpieces and other decor, and raffle ticket sales. Their hard work is a testament to the level of community support required to bring an event like Denim & Diamonds to fruition.

“On behalf of the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation and my entire faculty and staff, I would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to make this Denim & Diamonds a special event. A special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Todd Collins who allowed us to use their beautiful home and property. I would also like to thank Denim & Diamonds Title Sponsors, Bughouse Pest Control and Aalto Scientific, Ltd., and VIP Reception Sponsor BankSouth as well as all of the incredible sponsors for their tremendous generosity. Finally, I would like to recognize the 2022 Denim & Diamonds Co-Chairs, Teresa Sitler and Jean Brower for their dedication and hard work in making our event a huge success!” noted Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO of LOA.

LOAF is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the educational experience of every LOA student. As the school population continues to grow, the mission of the LOAF is to support this growth through new classroom buildings, fine arts programming, scholarship opportunities, and everything in between to enhance the educational experience. Hence why the theme of this year’s Denim & Diamonds was, “It’s the Experience!” In previous years, LOAF has raised funds to provide LOA students with 6,000+ library books, a piano lab, equipment for broadcasting, technology, band/musical theatre licenses, costumes, technology, athletic equipment, an upper elementary playground, visual arts supplies for honors and AP programs, travel scholarships for international study programs, new athletic fields, and most recently, the campus expansion.

Please enjoy the 2022 Denim & Diamonds recap video below.