By Chris Paul
During the month of December, the Matthew Thornton Elementary School student council held a “Mystery Gift Raffle” fundraiser for the NH Make -A-Wish Foundation.
The fundraiser had each student council member bring a present into school; they wrapped them, and placed clues on each one. For example, a stuffed animal’s clue could read, “I am soft and cuddly.” The school’s students were invited to purchase raffle tickets and place them in a bag next to the gift they wished to have during lunch each day. There were over 25 gifts available for students to try and win. The raffle tickets were drawn just before winter break so the students who won the gift could bring the present home for Christmas.
The money students raised during the event went directly to the New Hampshire Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization whose mission is to “create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
According to the organization’s website, Make-A-Wish shines a light of hope for children fighting critical illnesses when they need it most. They help create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses during their darkest days. The support they receive through fundraisers transforms lives, one wish at a time.
Photo by Chris Paul
The students were able to raise $1,090 during the fundraiser and the officers of the student council presented a check to Olivia Stanas, a Make-A-Wish Volunteer Coordinator on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Stanas was delighted with the generosity of the students and presented each with stickers and a Make-A-Wish t-shirt.
This was the sixth year that the students at Matthew Thornton have given to the Make a Wish Foundation.
The presentation was originally scheduled for earlier in the month, just after the holiday break, but for a number of reasons was rescheduled to last week.
Ann Smith, the Special Curriculum Advisor at Matthew Thornton Elementary helped to facilitate the event.