For the past six years, Mead High School has raised funds for Make-a-Wish Colorado to help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses. During this year’s Make-a-Wish Week, held January 15-20, the Mead community came together to support an eight-year-old girl named Zaidee. Having undergone a liver transplant seven years ago due to a rare liver disease, Zaidee dreams of visiting the Aulani Resort at Disney to meet her favorite character, Moana. The school’s goal was to raise $15,000 to help turn Zaidee’s Disney dreams into reality.

Mead’s student council orchestrated a variety of fundraising activities for Make-a-Wish Week, including a game called “Hot Potato,” where participating classes were challenged with filling a donation box with $20. Once filled, they could pass the box, symbolizing a “hot potato,” to an adjacent classroom. Classes that were left with a box at the end of the week were required to have their teacher choose a student to participate in a pie-in-the-face event during Friday’s assembly. Additionally, the school office provided boxes for students to donate money to vote on a teacher to receive a pie in the face at the assembly.

A series of themed spirit days were also held during the week, including Safari Day, Super Fan Day, and Sun or Snow Day, along with multiple restaurant fundraisers. Students and families were also given the opportunity to purchase Make-a-Wish shirts and were encouraged to wear them to school on Friday and to that evening’s home basketball game. Cookies from a local business were also sold at the game to raise money for the cause.

“I am incredibly proud of the Mead community for coming together to support Zaidee and Make-a-Wish Colorado,” said Student Council Advisor Nichole Rue. “It’s heartwarming to witness the dedication and creativity of our students in raising funds to make a child’s dream come true.”

Connor Good, a student council member and Fundraising Committee Director who helped coordinate Make-a-Wish Week, shared, “Seeing our school come together for this great cause has been really inspiring. It’s exciting to see the impact we can make when we work together.”