Through its third annual Riley Dance Marathon March 28, its Riley Week schedule of activities and other events throughout the year, a check for $6,000 was given to Riley Tuesday.
Student Body President Blake Schritter said efforts during Riley Week included a One-Day $1, where everyone brought in $1 for Riley; a passing of a bucket during a home basketball game; and other activities.
2015 Riley Champion Camille Kerlin, a WCHS student and a child ambassador for Riley Hospital for Children, is also the president of the school’s Octagon Club. She said the club gave $1,000 toward the total.
“It’s the most we’ve ever raised,” Troy Akers, WCHS principal, said. “We’ve been committed to Riley for as long as I’ve been here, which is the last 19 years.”
He said it was a whole school effort to raise money for Riley, with most students participating. The fundraising went beyond Riley Week, he said, with events throughout the school year.
“One difference with us is that this is totally student funded. We had some teacher participation,” Akers said. “We’ve taken this on and it provides a really good sense of kids living our mission statement and it really enriches the lives of others.”
All students had a chance to participate, and they did regardless of their socio-economic status. Everyone knows someone who’s a Riley patient, and several students at the high school are Riley patients, he said.
Not only has WCHS been a Riley Miracle School for its efforts, but Akers said Warsaw Community Schools has been one of a few Miracle Corporations in the state. To be a Miracle School for Riley, a school has to raise at least $1 for every student at the school.
“I think we’ll achieve that (Miracle Corporation) again this year. I think you’ll see some sort of Riley event at each school that will generate funds for Riley,” he said.
(Story By The Times Union)
