Students Raise $6,200 for Ill Teenager’s Wish

Putting aside rivalries, students from Saddleback Valley Unified’s five high schools have raised $6,200 to help make an ill Orange County teenager’s dream come true.

A representative from each school presented the Make-a-Wish Foundation with a check this month. The total will enable a 14-year-old afflicted with Hodgkin’s disease to watch the Rosie O’Donnell Show live in New York.

“For high school students to do this is really unusual,” said Teri Siplivy, a foundation official.

“I know it’s hard for them to give up money. It was appreciated.”

In March, students from each campus raised money by selling candy and food, recycling cans, holding coin toss contests and passing around collection bottles. Students from the five schools also signed a huge banner wishing the teenager well.

The students had hoped to raise $3,500, but with each school surpassing its goal, they nearly doubled that amount.

“I saw a lot of unity among the students,” said Tim Gentzler, Mission Viejo High School’s student body president. “It was really a nice feeling.”

El Toro, Laguna Hills, Silverado Continuation and Trabuco Hills high schools also participated.

The money will pay for air fare, lodging, food and entertainment for three. In the five days that the 14-year-old and her family are in New York, they are scheduled to meet talk-show host O’Donnell, attend a Broadway show and visit local attractions.