Letter Writing Supports Wish Foundation

Senior Audrey Price, in collaboration with Macy’s Department Stores, has brought the Make-A-Wish letter writing campaign to Campolindo.

Participants write “letters to Santa”, which are then delivered to Macy’s. For every Christmas letter written, Macy’s donates $1 to the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Price became interested in Make-A-Wish during her sophomore year. “I joined the Make-A-Wish Youth Board, and they tell us everything that goes on in the foundation, and 1 of the women told me about a letter writing campaign and I immediately wanted to start that up at my school,” she said.

Price started the program on campus in 2015, raising $5,800. The next year she raised $10,000, and this year her goal is $15,000.

Price fears she may not reach her goal however, and encourages students to submit letters through December 15th, the day students are released for winter break. Macy’s holds the campaign until December 24th.

“I am giving out 4 pieces of candy to anyone who writes 10 letters. It will take maybe 2 minutes, and if they do write letters, it will be out of the goodness of their heart. We also hold contests, we held one in Academy. We had 4 bags filled with candy, and you wrote 10 letters just to be entered in the contest, and then people could write as many letters as you wanted to raise their chance. We put them all in a basket and we picked out 4 letters, and those people won the bags of candy,” Price said.

Sophomore Adina Levin is also helping with the campaign. “Last year Audrey was in my math class, and I heard her talking about it and I thought it was really cool that she was involved in this organization that helps kids who are sick or have a disease and I thought I wanted to help. So last year I walked around with Audrey to collect letters and hand out paper,” she said.

This year, Levin branched out on her own to further promote the campaign. “I cut up paper and went around to different classes and I asked teachers to help and I gave out candy to people who wrote letters.” Levin explained.

Math teacher Dagmar Ortman has also helped Price the past 2 years.

Ortman has held letter writing contests at the beginning of her math classes for candy prizes. “It takes so little time out of class. I do it while students are coming in and warming up. It is such a worthwhile cause, and they can all individually help,” she said.

Price also recognized science teacher Tren Kauzer and math teacher Ken Ingersoll for providing scratch paper.

Students can submit their letters directly to Price or to the large boxes in the counselors’ and attendance offices.