FWCS set to keep Miracle Corporation status
Record Number: 5933 Displayed from: Feb 3 2010 12:00AM, until: Mar 3 2010 12:00AM Fort Wayne Community Schools kicked off its annual fundraiser for Riley Hospital for Children today with a
goal of keeping the title of Miracle Corporation for a third year. To become a Miracle Corporation each school
in the district must raise $1 for each student in the building. Two years ago, FWCS students and staff raised
$32,872 and became the largest Miracle Corporation ever. Last year, students and staff met the district's
goal again by raising $31,413.
In 2009, 33 of the district's 51 schools earned Miracle School status, including Croninger Elementary
School where the official fundraiser kickoff was held. Croninger was one of the top FWCS collectors last year
with more than $1,700 raised. That amount equals about $3 per student. The district-wide fundraiser is part of
the Kids Caring & Sharing Program, which gives students a chance to help other children. The program is a
special project of the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) to support the Riley Children's
Foundation.
"Riley is special to many people in the Fort Wayne Community Schools family because so many of us have
a direct connection to Riley. Whether it is a son or daughter, a student, a neighbor or even their own
experience, Riley has helped someone close to most of us," said Croninger Principal Rebecca Dennis, who
represents IASP District #3 and Kids Caring & Sharing on the Riley Hospital Board. "Many children have
friends who have gone through sometimes extensive medical treatments and don't know what they can do to
help. Kids Caring & Sharing gives students an opportunity to make a difference and support their
classmates."
Riley Hospital is Indiana's only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children.
The hospital opened in 1924 in honor of the famous Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley. Each year, more than
220,000 patient visits take place at Riley. Children come from each county in the state, across the nation and
throughout the world. The hospital has a strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine,
making it the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region.
Each year families from Allen County turn to Riley for care nearly 3,000 times; families from Northeast
Indiana visit Riley more than 6,500 times. Many of these children are also being treated at either Parkview or
Lutheran facilities. Of the appointments from Allen County, 193 are inpatients visits and 2,795 are outpatient
visits. When students help Riley, they are helping their friends and classmates.
"The collective energy and dedication Fort Wayne Community Schools is remarkable," said Greg
Williamson, Assistant Vice President of Development at Riley Children's Foundation. "Students develop
an understanding of the importance of giving, while truly making a difference for the patients at Riley
Hospital."
The partnership between FWCS and Riley Children's Foundation went a step further last year, when the
Foundation awarded Blessings in a Backpack a $10,000. Blessings in a Backpack seeks to end hunger among FWCS
students by sending a backpack full of food home with students for the weekend.
Each of FWCS' 53 school buildings and several administrative areas will raise money to reach Miracle
status. Those not working in or attending an FWCS school can drop off donations at any FWCS building.
© Fort Wayne Community Schools | May 26th 2013