A lesson in civic consciousness led the Oxford High School DECA Club last Wednesday to donate $2,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help one special child’s dream come true.
DECA raised the money through three special events, each of which were organized and conducted by marketing students.
The club raised $1,400 from its annual Bowl Out at Collier Lanes in December, $850 from its annual “Trendz Show” held Jan. 19 in cooperation with Glitz Salons and $250 from the school’s “Crush Week” last October.
The fund-raising events were part of a “civic consciousness” project coordinated by DECA members Megan Griffin and Samantha Strozynski.
When asked why they chose the Make-A-Wish Foundation ? which grants the wishes of children under 18 with life-threatening illnesses ? as the project’s charity, Griffin replied, “We enjoy working with kids and seeing their smiles when you help them.”
According to Make-A-Wish Community Events Manager Kelly Stoy, the $2,500 DECA raised will be used to help make two-year-old Lincoln Park resident Blake Bowman’s wish come true.
Bowman suffers from cystic fibrosis, a congenital disease, usually of children, characterized by fibrosis and malfunctioning of the pancreas, and by frequent respiratory infections.
Bowman’s wish is to meet Mickey Mouse, so after he turns age 3 in July (the minimum age required to participate in the wish program), he’ll be off to Disney World for a week.
Bowman’s older brother, six-year-old Brett, and mother, Kim, were on hand at OHS to accept the check from DECA.
Brett also suffers from cystic fibrosis and had his wish granted ? going to Disney World for a week to meet Goofy ? when he was five years old.
Brett now serves as a “Wish Ambassador” for the foundation, making special appearances at events such as check presentations.
When she learned that DECA would be donating $2,500 to help make her son’s wish come true, Kim Bowman said she was “stunned” and started crying.
“There’s not enough thanks in the world I can offer (DECA),” she said. “It’s a priceless gift. It’s a week away from doctors and hospitals and some time to just be a family. It gives the kids time away to take their minds off their illnesses and just be kids.”
“It creates memories that will live forever,” she said of the Make-A-Wish program. “I may not always have my children, but I’ll always have those memories.”