Mountain Vista students celebrated at Elitch Gardens

Elitch Gardens donated 4,500 tickets to students at Mountain Vista High School schools (Summit View Elementary, Northridge Elementary and Heritage Elementary) to enjoy the theme and water park for free in celebration of being the top fundraising

It is the rst time since the Colorado and its top fundraising school were invited back to Elitch Gardens, sering as the 15th annual Wish Wednesday. roughout the academic year, more than 200 schools participated in Make-A-Wish Colorao’s student-led fundraising program, Kids For Wish Kids, one of the largest fundraising programs with Make-A-

Across the state, students raised enough funds to grant wishes to 250 children who have critical illnesses, according to Make-A-Wish Colorado.

Mountain Vista has been the top fundraising school since 2016. In 11 years partnering with Make-A-Wish Colorado, e students at Mountain Vista provided Lucy with the opportunity to practice her runway moves during a fashion show they hosted in the school gym which included Lucy’s friends.

Mountain Vista and their feeder schools have donated $1.5 million dollars which is enough to grant 195 wishes.

“ ey have led the way of what it means to be generous and what it means to inspire generosity outside of their school, to their whole community, their feeder schools, their sponsors and so we are just grateful for that partnership,” said Sarah Grosh, director of community development at Make-A-Wish Colorado.

Collectively, Mountain Vista and their feeder schools raised $198,000 during their Wish Week in February.

In addition, 500 tickets were provided to wish kids who were featured across the state during this year’s Kids For Wish Kids program. A handful of featured wish kids and their families attended the event, including the family from Smoky Hill High School.

Before Elitch’s rides opened on June 14, 8-year-old Lucy, who has chronic kidney disease and was the feature wish kid for Mountain Vista’s 2022-23 Wish Week kicked o the morning by giving thanks to the Mountain Vista community.

Lucy was so grateful for the experience that Mountain Vista gave her and told the crowd about her favorite part: “ e tour and the fashion show,” said Lucy. “Being able to walk on the runway, see all the decorations that they made.”

After wish week, Lucy’s wish was not over as she got to walk the runway at the 2023 Denver Fashion Week Kids Show in May.

“It was amazing to walk on the runway,” said Lucy. “With the photoshoot, it was so fun just being able to dress up and get all fancy and it was just amazing.”

With her daughters and their friends Lucy’s mom, Natalie was grateful for the opportunity.

“I feel like the giving never stops,” said Lucy’s mom Natalie. “ Everyone’s so giving to this Make-A-Wish community, it’s been amazing to be a recipient of it and to watch her shine, it’s been awesome.”