*By Michelle Kern, Corporate Administrator*
Last Friday, I attended Rock Canyon High School’s closing assembly for their Wish Week fundraiser. Wish Week is a seven day fundraising effort managed by the Student Council to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado’s Kids for Wish Kids Program. This program helps grant wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions.
OCI donated to the cause for the second year in a row and I had heard a lot of great things about the fundraising efforts by the students. Last year, RCHS students broke the national record for donations to the Kids for Wish Kids program by a high school by raising over $40,000 in donations! That was an amazing accomplishment. This year, students dove into Wish Week with high energy, commitment, and determination. They hosted fundraising events such as dodge ball game night, Dish-for-a-Wish events at local restaurants, and sold Wish Week t-shirts among other things to grant Natalie’s wish to go to Disney World. Natalie is a 5 year old girl who has leukemia and lives in the community.
Upon entering the RCHS gym for the assembly, I was amazed at how committed to the cause students were. Everyone was excited for the assembly and all I saw was a sea of blue sponsorship t-shirts worn by all of the students. The assembly had high energy throughout the entire duration and included short presentations from student council members and representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado summarizing the activities from the days prior.
For the moment we had all been eagerly anticipating, student council leaders and Natalie took the stage, and they informed her that her wish had been granted; she was going to Disney World. This sparked a roar of excitement from the crowd, but no one had expected what was to come next. A gigantic check with an overlay hiding the check amount was brought out onto the stage to be presented to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado. It was announced that the students had raised over $43,000!
I couldn’t believe it. What an incredible effort from the students! I was so happy to be there and see the students, Natalie, the teachers, parents, and everyone one else who supported the fundraising efforts. Congratulations to the RCHS Student Council. We are lucky to have you as part of our community!
Rock Canyon High School 2012 Wish Week
