More than $180,000 has been raised by a school in Adelaide's south after Australian Conservative Senator Cory Bernardi tweeted its fundraising campaign was "absurd gender morphing".
Craigburn primary school principal Paul Luke says the school had set out to raise $900 for girls in Africa by allowing students, both male and female, to come wearing a dress for one day, but after Senator Bernardi's public criticisms of the move the school had raised $180,000 as of Friday morning.
Mr Luke said the feedback of the school's decision had been positive and the publicity should focus on the cause of supporting the education of girls in Africa not gender issues.
Following the Senator's tweet, the Do It In A Dress campaign gathered momentum.
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The original goal to raise enough funds to educate three girls in Africa has been blown out of the water. As it stands, the $180,000 raised will help educate 622 African girls.
Comedian and actor Josh Thomas donated $2,000 for the cause and helped promote the fundraiser on Twitter.
He has been regularly tweeting his support for the "tiny heroes" of Craigburn Primary School, congratulating them on reaching $180,000.
"THEY WERE TRYING TO RAISE $900. What a bunch of tiny heroes," he tweeted.
"Hey cuties. The #DoItInADress fundraiser is now over $180000,' he added.
The Do It In A Dress campaign looks at raising money for young females in Africa who are denied an education.
The challenge encourages groups to don a dress to raise money for the education of young girls in Africa.
