Since 2006, Spring Sing groups have teamed up with local charities and organizations as a way to give back to the community, and this year is no different. The eight Spring Sing shows are each paired with a charity and will be competing on behalf of their cause. On Saturday, April 15, the first, second and third place winners will be announced, and their charities will receive various amounts of funds.

Delta Nu and friends are competing for Friends for Life with their show “Stock Market Crash.” Friends for Life is a center in Searcy whose mission is to “Encourage, evangelize and educate women in life affirming choices,” and offers free and confidential services to women in the Searcy area.

“We chose (Friends for Life) because what they do for the women in this community is very important, and we would like to help support their cause,” sophomore and student director Kendall Carwile said. “It’s a wonderful organization that truly cares about the well-being of the women in the Searcy community.”

GATA, Chi Kappa Rho, Phi Kappa Delta and friends are performing their show “Scotland” for Searcy Children’s Homes, a non-profit child placement agency that provides foster care, adoption and maternity services to children and families in Arkansas.

Kids First, a pediatric health care program for children with special health care needs, is teamed up with Chi Sigma Alpha, Regina, Sigma Phi Mu and friends, who will be performing their show “Delivery.”

Chi Omega Pi, Iota Chi, Shantih, Zeta Pi Zeta and friends will be competing with their show “Women of WWII” for Jacob’s Place. Jacob’s Place Homeless mission provides temporary housing as well as financial, emotional, spiritual and job counseling for homeless families with children in White County.

Pi Theta Phi, Gamma Sigma Phi and friends are competing for Special Olympics with their show, “Little Red Riding in the Hood.”

Delta Gamma Rho, Omega Phi and friends will be performing their show, “Cows and Chickens,” to benefit Hope Cottage, a shelter in Searcy that provides support for abused women and children, including life counseling and transitional housing.

Ju Go Ju, Ko Jo Kai, Sub T-16 and Friends are teamed up with the Sunshine School, a White County school for people of all ages with developmental disabilities, and will be performing “Noah and the Ark” on their behalf.

TNT, Zeta Rho and friends are competing with their show “Southern Elves” for the White County Aging Program, which provides meals, transportation and activities for senior citizens in the area.

“We chose the White County Aging Facility because we could all easily connect well with it by thinking of the impact older mentors have had in each of our lives,” junior and student director Sara Keith said. “We were already able to serve this group by repainting their facility, but now we are excited to sponsor this group with our show.”

House manager for Jacob’s Place, Rebecca Milon said that Spring Sing does a lot for the Searcy community due to the revenue it brings. Milon also said that receiving the prize money from Spring Sing 2016 winners TNT, Zeta Rho and friends helped relieve a lot of tension and stress.

“Jacob’s Place runs on strictly volunteer work and donations,” Milon said. “I’m sure that money was a huge blessing, and everything (Harding) does for us is greatly appreciated.”