Wishing in Encampment

Encampment High School was recently recognized by Make-A-Wish Wyoming for their participation in and fundraising for the program, according to a recent press release. The Kids for Wish Kids program was introduced by Make-A-Wish Wyoming in 2000 and Encampment High School has been participating in the program since 2007.

The program encouraged students from kindergarten to 12th grade to raise money to grant the wishes of children who are battling critical illnesses. High school students are allowed creative leeway to craft fundraisers that they believe will work best at their schools and in their communities. For Encampment, that comes in the form of “Penny Wars”, a homecoming week competition for all K-12 students.

During homecoming week, jars are placed in the Encampment school library with the intention of each grade raising the most money. Pennies, as the name of “Penny Wars” suggests, provide positive points for a class while other change—nickels, dimes and quarters—give negative points. While students place pennies in the jar for their grade, they place the other change in the other jars to bring down their potential points. All that money at the end of the week is counted and donated to Make-A-Wish.

“The Kids for Wish Kids program is vital to our ability to grant wishes of children across the state of Wyoming. The funds raised through the Kids of Wish Kids program often account for up to a third of our direct public support each year,” said Morgan Poloncic, Make-A-Wish Wyoming CEO. “We truly couldn’t do it without them. It is neat to see these student groups come together year after year to help us deliver joy at a time when it is needed most, and often to a child in their own community.”