Dave Zuilkoski, superintendent of Conestoga Valley School District (CVSD), and Erik Orndorff, superintendent of Pequea Valley School District (PVSD), are also president and vice president of the Rotary Club of Paradise, respectively. Feeling the weight of having to cancel the club's usual fundraisers due to COVID-19 restrictions, the pair decided to look inward for motivation.

"We thought it would be good to hold ourselves accountable and raise some money via 'The Biggest Loser' competition," explained Orndorff.

From February to the end of April, Zuilkoski and Orndorff engaged in a battle not only designed to see which superintendent could lose the most weight, but also pitting CVSD against PVSD to see which could raise the most funds for an organization of the superintendent's choosing. Zuilkoski raised funds for Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS), which provides a food pantry and other services for CVSD residents, and Orndorff chose The Factory Ministries, which provides similar services for PVSD residents.

The competition invited potential donors to give a chosen amount per pound, make a one-time donation, or donate food to either CVCCS or The Factory. E-mail blasts and other methods of communication were used to provide weekly weigh-in updates to donors. "We kicked off on Feb. 8 (with the) first weigh-in," recalled Orndorff, who noted that both he and Zuilkoski submitted photos of their scales until the last weigh-in, which was held in person.

Each man set a goal of losing 20 pounds. "We were pretty close (in weight) when we started," recalled Zuilkoski, who planned to work extra hard to lose during the last few weeks. He noted that being more aware of what he eats and walking regularly, along with an elliptical routine and light weight training, were helping him to lose.

Orndorff, who has participated in group bicycling efforts in the past, said that he has been avoiding eating carbohydrates and has been working out on a treadmill in the Pequea Valley High School fitness center.

When April 30 arrived, Orndorff had lost 22 pounds, and Zuilkoski had lost 17. As the loser, Zuilkoski had to wear PVSD spirit wear while walking through schools in his own district. Orndorff was able to donate approximately $3,000 to The Factory Ministries, and Zuilkoski donated about the same amount in funds to CVCCS.

In addition to the funds, food was donated. Efforts included Fritz Elementary School's cereal drive, which had a goal of collecting 400 boxes of cereal, and making a domino line with the cereal boxes in the hallway prior to taking them to CVCCS. "They ended up with 1,027 boxes," said Zuilkoski. "It probably took three or four minutes for all the boxes to fall." Approximately 500 other food items were also donated to CVCCS as part of the competition.

Both superintendents have decided to encourage healthy habits for their district staff members. "For our faculty, we have made it part of our healthy awareness program to lose weight," said Zuilkoski. "If you sign up to lose weight, you get points toward our wellness program."

Orndorff is hoping to repeat the fundraiser in the future. "Next year, we might find a more formalized way of doing it with a percentage of weight loss for 20 people from PVSD and 20 people from CVSD, so it's not only (the two of) us."