Hickory Creek Middle School students are teaming with the District 157-C Family School Partnership organization to raise $5,000 to grant a wish for a special child through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Proceeds from a “back to school” dance and a successful Panera Bread shopping day have already been donated to the effort.  Additional fundraising initiatives include a Market Day pie sale, Aurelio’s Dine & Donate effort, a gift card sale through participating businesses and a fundraiser with Good Burger. 

The Make-A-Wish effort is an activity that is geared to making a difference in people’s lives and is being done in conjunction with the school’s character education program, “Character Counts.”  Students hope to grant the wish of a local child with a life-threatening medical condition to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.  The challenge goal is to raise $5,000 by January 2013.  Upon reaching the challenge goal, the Make-A-Wish organization will provide Hickory Creek Middle School administrators with a certificate containing information on the child they have adopted, the child’s wish choice and their experiences during attaining the wish. 

School and community members are invited to join the students in attaining their goal by participating in the fundraisers. Market Day pie sale order forms are due back by October 24.  Forms must be returned by October 25 for gift cards that can be purchased at a special discount from businesses that include 1-800-Flowers, 1-800-Baskets, Cheryl’s, Fannie May, Harry London and The Popcorn Factory. The Aurelio’s Dine & Donate events will be held on the third Wednesdays of each month from October to May and include dine-in or carryout orders. The fundraiser with Good Burger will take place in November. More information about these fundraisers is posted on the Hickory Creek page of the District 157-C website at www.fsd157c.org. Online donations are also welcome and are tax-deductible. 

As an incentive for the students, Principal Dr. Kevin Suchinski and Assistant Principal Sean Rhoads have promised to shave their heads and Assistant Principal April Mahy will dye her hair blonde for a day if the goal of $5,000 is reached.  The administrators have also promised to dress up as Smurfs if the students achieve their goal. More information about the Make-A-Wish effort is with the school at 815-469-4474.