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By Cherokee Tribune staff
Jessica Cowart is checking out people's T-shirts more than usual these days.
The 18-year-old Cherokee High School graduate won the Service League of Cherokee County's Riverfest T-shirt design contest.
The T-shirts are being sold by the nonprofit organization to raise funds and awareness for its annual Riverfest arts and crafts festival, which is on Sept. 27 and 28 at Boling Park in Canton.
Miss Cowart, who lives in northwest Cherokee, saw someone wearing the T-shirt for the first time while at work at Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q in Canton.
"I was standing at the cash register when someone came up to pay wearing one," said Miss Cowart, who graduated in May and plans to study graphic arts or interior design at Appalachian Technical College. "I was so excited and was like, 'That's my shirt!'"
The league last spring invited Cherokee County students to enter their designs in the contest, which will now be an annual event because of its success. The winning design not only is featured on the shirts, but the winner will also be recognized at Riverfest and receive free T-shirts and passes to the festival.
Miss Cowart's winning design is on the back of the natural cotton T-shirts, which sell for $15 each. It features the outline of a small hand inside the outline of a larger hand as well as the words "Lend a Helping Hand" and a paintbrush painting the word "Riverfest."
"I was inspired by the image of holding a kid's hand while crossing the street," said Miss Cowart, adding she wanted to combine the idea of helping children and the arts. For her models, Miss Cowart used the hands of a classmate, William McIntyre, and of Jessica Owen, 6, of Holly Springs, a relative of her boyfriend.
Proceeds raised at Riverfest are used by the league to support its mission of helping local children in need. The league, through Riverfest and other fundraisers like the Run for the Children held every March, raised $85,000 last year.
T-Shirt Committee Chairwoman Melissa Whatley said Miss Cowart's design best portrayed the league's mission.
"The more aware the community is of what we do... serve needy children and families throughout the county with essentials including dental care, eyeglasses, clothing, medical care or help with rent or utility bills, the more they support the fundraising efforts," she said. "The more the fundraising efforts are supported, the more assistance the Service League is able to offer. We are extremely appreciative of the support we've received this year."
To encourage the purchase of the T-shirts, the league gained the support of Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo. School administrators are allowed to offer a casual day once a week in September so employees can wear the T-shirts.
Area businesses also are encouraged to allow employees who purchase the T-shirts to wear them on a similar dress-down day once a week.
More than 900 T-shirts already have been sold, Mrs. Whatley said Thursday.
The league has sweetened the deal with a list of local businesses that will offer discounts or other special perks to anyone wearing the T-shirts in September.
Participating businesses include Betsy's on Main Street in Woodstock, Cherokee Closeouts in Canton, Hardee's in Towne Lake, Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers in Towne Lake, Key's Jewelry in Canton, Longhorn Steakhouse in Canton, Moe's in Canton, Roly Poly Sandwich Shop in Towne Lake, Shane's Rib Shack in Canton, Stevi B's Pizza in Canton, The Dance Pointe in Canton, Traditions in Free Home, Vine and Branches in Hickory Flat and Zaxby's in Holly Springs.
The T-shirts can be ordered by contacting a league member or through the Web site at www.riverfest.org.
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