Fundraiser earns big money for Make-A-Wish

The high schools in Green River and Rock Springs showed their love for the Make-A-Wish Foundation last week, raising $39,885.04 for the organization.

A blood drive hosted by the schools generated 141 pints of blood, with Green River donating 77 pints while Rock Springs donated 64 pints.

Marisa DeClercq, the Green River High School student government advisor, said the amount raised for Make-A-Wish is impressive considering the fundraising period was condensed into a single week. She said planning began Jan. 4.

“We really had to plan very far in advance to get events and spaces approved,” Senior Class President Sydney Ferrer said. “There was a lot of work involved.”

Ferrer said planning was more difficult than in previous years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Another aspect of the annual fundraiser that proved more difficult this year was getting people to attend the events hosted.

“Some people just didn’t want to go out,” she said.

Ferrer and DeClercq estimate the total number of hours donated by the 40 members of student government to be in the hundreds. Outside of planning and promotion, seven members would be at each event, which would be between two and three hours apiece.

Ferrer has volunteered for the events in the past and while the pandemic has changed how the fundraiser is conducted, she will have treasured memories of the event.

“Helping my Council to produce that output was memorable in itself,” she said.