Students of Hollenbeck Middle School are working to make the wish of Henry, a 7-year old Francis Howell School District student who is battling leukemia, come true by raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Hollenbeck students hope to raise $5,000 to grant Henry’s dream of going on a Nickelodeon cruise.
Students began raising money at the beginning of May selling t-shirts and trinkets before school and during lunches, holding a donut sale, participating in themed days, and a PTO goodie sale during lunches. Huddle Up classes also raised money by participating in a penny war. Students and staff have raised money for their Huddle Up classes by collecting pennies, which count positively toward the class total. Classes battle each other by “sabotage” other classes by donating silver coins or paper money, which counted negatively against class totals. The more the classes battle, the more the total amount of donations continue to increase.
On Thursday, May 17, 2012, Hollenbeck will hold an assembly celebrating not only the school’s accomplishment with Make-A-Wish, but also the school’s selection as a Missouri School of Character. The St. Louis Cardinals’ Fredbird will make an appearance to congratulate students on their hard work building character and raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After the assembly, the school will engage in the “Wish Walk” around the campus as part of the festivities.
If the school reaches the goal of $5,000, Principals Woody Borgschulte and Molly Hamer have agreed to camp out on the roof of Hollenbeck the night of May 17, welcoming the students and staff to school the next morning from high atop the school.
Anyone wanting to contribute to this worthy cause can send donations until May 15th to Hollenbeck Middle School, Attention: Hollenbeck Make-A-Wish, 4555 Central School Road, St. Charles, MO 63304. Checks may be made out to Make-A-Wish Foundation.