Marksmen Make a Difference in Fiji

When St. Mark’s students and faculty came together to support a school more than 6,000 miles away, they helped a small idea grow into a transformative project. What began as an effort to repurpose leftover bags from Marksmen Multicultural Night (MMN) blossomed into Bags and Books, a global service initiative that delivered nearly 1,000 books and hundreds of supplies to students in Fiji.

For Tex Davison ’27, the project was deeply personal. His family has had ties to Fiji, and more specifically the island of Taveuni, for nearly two decades, through a home they built there. “We have people from the surrounding communities who help us manage (our property) every day,” Davison explained. “The communities are tight knit and supportive.”

Davison brought the idea to Lorre Allen, Director of Inclusion, Diversity, and Human Resources, and the Global Engagement Committee (GEC). “Helping communities has always been a priority in our family,” Davison said. “We eventually concluded that we could donate a lot of the leftover bags from Marksmen Multicultural Night and then donate as many books and any other supplies as we can. We began receiving donations and much more supplies than we anticipated. So, this supposedly small donation turned into something that could transform a school.”

Christian Warner ’26, a member of both the Inclusion & Diversity Leadership Council (IDLC) and GEC, described how students pitched in: “Mrs. Allen approached us with the opportunity towards the end of the summer. Eventually, the event was organized, and, sometime in June, any available members of the IDLC and GEC showed up to school to pack these bags full of books. It has since been developed into a greater initiative that I am looking forward to working with in the future.”

The generosity of the community far exceeded initial expectations. Students, parents, alumni, and faculty all contributed, filling boxes with books, supplies, and encouragement.

“This project turned into an SM community project,” Allen said. “Lower School boys decorated wooden lions with messages, Middle School students and alumni wrote notes of support, and parents donated supplies and other items. Every contribution—big or small—reflected our shared values of service, responsibility, and leadership.”

Jennifer Scott, Administrative Assistant to Mrs. Allen, noted the teamwork behind the effort, “It took patience, problem-solving, and coordination, but in the end, the process became a beautiful example of how we worked together to ensure our support truly reaches those who need it most.”

The project’s recipient was Niusawa Primary School. “The school’s conditions are somewhat desperate for resources,” Davison said. “The addition of textbooks, DVD players, and school supplies will augment the student and teacher’s experiences and educations incredibly.”

On August 6, 2025, the shipment of 100 boxes arrived in Fiji, containing 657 student books, 191 teacher books, and 235 MMN bags. Head of School Mr. Antonio Wainlagi sent a video message of thanks, “We are thankful for your generous donation to the school, which will help the students in their learning and the teachers in their teaching.”

“The Bags and Books project is a testament to our boys’ dedication and the power of community,” Allen said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our boys—changing lives and making an impact on the world!”

What began as a small idea to repurpose leftover bags has now touched hundreds of lives across the Pacific. For the Marksmen who packed boxes, wrote messages, or donated supplies, and for the students in Fiji who received them, the project is a reminder that caring for others, even in small ways, can grow into something extraordinary.

Davison summed it up best, “Seeing firsthand the schooling situations that the Fijians have been dealing with, this project means so much more to them than it would to many others. And knowing the community firsthand makes this project mean so much more to me. I’m truly delighted that we as a school have been able to help and I hope that we can keep on helping many more schools.”