Wishes come true at RCHS “wish week”
Wish Kid, Taylor, speaking to RCHS at the opening assembly.
by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Kate Hartline
Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Kids for Wish Kids Program and adopted Taylor’s Wish. Taylor is a nine-year-old boy who wished to go to the Great Barrier Reef. He is an avid swimmer and ever since he saw the movie “Finding Nemo,” he has wanted to go see the Great Barrier Reef before it disappears.
The RCHS student council put together a week of events focused on raising money for Taylor’s Wish. RCHS held a “miracle minute” at the end of its first assembly and raised more than $2,900 during just that one minute. By the end of the Friday night dodgeball tournament, with only one previous day of fundraising, the school had already collected more than $9,000.
RCHS social studies teacher and student council advisor Kate Hartline commented, “During the week, teachers, students, parents and community members found many ways to participate and help out. Teachers encouraged their students to give, one class raised more than $3,000 alone,” said Hartline. According to Hartline, students purchased “wish kits” for $10 and some made additional donations. They partnered with local restaurants to raise additional funds, and the RCHS community really came through.
At the end of the week, RCHS presented a check to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a whopping $40,271.15. Additional donations came in the following week for a grand total of $40,876.26. RCHS broke the state and national records for money raised through the Kids for Wish Kids program.
Hartline remarked, “Wish week was an amazing example of greatness. The students, staff, parents, and community members found ways, both big and small, to make a difference in the lives of some very deserving kids. We set out with a goal to grant Taylor’s Wish and in the end, we granted five additional wishes making it six wishes total! This was a super successful week!”
