EDMOND, Okla. – Who says one person can’t make a difference?

Brian Hunter, an Edmond North High School teacher and student council adviser, was concerned when student fundraising would be impacted by the new federal rules regulating school fundraisers.

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“Edmond North’s mascot is a husky dog, and a sugary treat called ‘puppy chow’ is among the foods sold to raise money during BALTO Week,” The Oklahoman reports.

BALTO stands for “Bring A Light To Others.”

The Edmond district’s three high schools raised more than $1 million last year for various charities.

So Hunter went to the state Board of Education, seeking a state-wide exemption to the rules championed by Michelle Obama that would allow students to sell food to raise money.

In Hunter’s case, Edmond students raise money for Hearts for Hearing, a group that helps those with hearing loss obtain “cochlear implants, hearing aid, and auditory-verbal therapy,” according to the BALTO Week website.

Students, teachers and administrators from Deer Creek, Norman, John Marshal and Edmond attended the board meeting to urge the board to grant exemptions to the federal mandates.

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“My initial reaction was to have everything exempted,” board member Bill Price said at the meeting.

“I want to leave it up to the school district. I want the local district to have control.”

Board members were already inclined to support Hunter’s idea before hearing his presentation.

The board passed the exemptions unanimously.

Other schools stand to benefit, too.

Deer Creek’s Wonderful Week of Fundraising, the school’s charity week, raised $90,130 last year, said Jason Stephenson, a district high school teacher and student council sponsor, according to the paper.

“Stephenson and Hunter estimated each of their schools would take a $40,000-plus hit on this year’s fundraisers,” the Oklahoman reports.

Attendees left the board meeting clapping and smiling because fundraisers can go on again this year.

“It went better than we ever, ever expected,” Rachel Funderburk, Edmond North High School student and 2015 BALTO chairman says, according to the paper.

“It is a blessing. Everyone will be so glad. The student body will be so happy.”