More than $58,000 for Make-A-Wish

Students in Green River and Rock Springs have come a long way since the first Make-A-Wish fundraiser the two schools hosted in 2004.

That year, the schools raised approximately $1,500.

"It may seem like a small amount, but those students ... started a tradition," Morgan Legerski, CEO of Make-A-Wish's Wyoming Chapter said.

Thursday, the schools announced that tradition raised nearly 38 times that amount, $56,947.97. That figure excludes $1,279.06 raised from Truman Elementary School Friday. The grand total, including Truman, amounts to $58,227.03.

Green River won the fundraising challenge between the two schools, collecting $28,500.79 to Rock Springs' $24,591.51.

While the amount fell short of GRHS's $37,000 goal, the Rock Springs High School student council decided to donate its amount to Green River to help fulfill that goal. Legerski said the annual fundraiser in Sweetwater County is important to the foundation, which receives one-third of its annual budget from 35 schools hosting similar fundraisers across the state. Sweetwater County's schools contribute more to the foundation than any other school in the state.

"It's huge," Legerski said.

To commemorate Sweetwater County's dedication to Make-A-Wish, Feb. 15 was designated Wish Day by Green River and Rock Springs.

Legerski said more than 560 families have had wishes granted since Make-A-Wish Wyoming was founded in 1985. Of those wishes, 18 were from children in Sweetwater County. However, Legerski says they estimate they are contacted by only half of the children eligible for Make-A-Wish, saying many people have a misconception about the foundation's services being only available for terminally-ill children. Legerski said children facing life-threatening diseases are eligible for a wish.