A local elementary school will get a face-lift this weekend.
As a part of Project Makeover more than 800 UF students will paint murals and revamp the baseball field at Lake Forest Elementary.
Project Makeover is , an annual event in which UF students renovate local elementary schools.
The event begins Friday with shifts starting at 3 p.m. and going till 9 p.m.
On Saturday, shifts last from 9 a.m to 9 p.m., and on Sunday they will go from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.
UF alumnus Josh Jackson came up with the idea for Project Makeover in 2007 when he saw “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and decided to apply the show’s concept to local schools.
Project Makeover director Julianne Scherker said the group wants ABC to air clips of painting and landscaping they do in elementary schools since their project was inspired by the show.
Along with paintings and murals, the makeover will include donations of books and school supplies.
The project has raised $4,400, but Scherker continues to encourage people to donate money this weekend.
The new fundraising goal of $5,000, which is $1,500 more than last year’s total.
In partnership with the Alachua County Public Schools Foundation, “Project Makeover: Lake Forest Edition” will air today through Sunday.
The event will be taped by local ABC affiliate WCJB-TV 20.
Abby Snyder, Project Makeover’s director of external public relations, said the fundraising team looked at new strategies by hosting the first annual Kickin’ for the Kids kickball tournament to help meet the organization's financial goals.
Fifteen teams representing student groups including the Florida Cicerones and the UF Ad Society.
She said the teams raised more than $600 at the tournament.
Members also collected donations during classes and stood outside of Wal-Mart asking shoppers for donations, according to Snyder.
She said the project involves more than just renovations.
The project is about beautifying the schools and making them better, she said.
“The biggest way we can make a difference is by providing a learning environment where learning becomes fun,” she said.
Scherker encourages people to find more information by searching “Project Makeovers” on Facebook.
