PV Schools highlights student Make‑A‑Wish fundraisers; some drive five‑figure donations

Hosts Sarah and Cara featured the Make A Wish Foundation and district student fundraising on the PV Schools podcast, describing a partnership that lets students plan and run fundraisers to grant wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Sarah introduced the district’s relationship with Make A Wish and described the 'Kids for Wish Kids' program as one that “allows students and youth organizations to plan and execute fundraisers and grant wishes to children with critical illnesses” and that it “fosters leadership and community service within our high school and within our students.”

Connor Hutchinson, the district’s director of finance, explained the fundraising logistics: student groups run events (assemblies, car washes, bake sales), collect donations separately and then make a single donation on behalf of the school or student group to the Arizona Make A Wish Foundation. “The kids then will collect the donations directly. It’s accounted for separately. And then the students are making one big donation on behalf of the school,” he said.

Hutchinson also said some of these fundraisers can be substantial: “I would say that, on average, over $10,000 for some of these fundraisers,” he said, and cited examples: Pinnacle fundraising to send a student to Super Nintendo World in Japan and Horizon High School fundraising to send a student to Disney World. Shadow Mountain High School was listed as having an upcoming fundraiser.

The hosts encouraged the community to watch for events and support student fundraisers. The episode also announced related community activities, including the PV Schools community fun run and health fair at Horizon High School on January 31 and kindergarten roundup events at district elementary sites.

Next steps: For information about school fundraising, Make A Wish partnerships or to find upcoming student events, the hosts directed listeners to pvschools.net or to contact individual schools.