BROWNSTOWN
While they couldn’t gather for the Riley Dance Marathon event April 4, Brownstown Central High School students still made sure to follow through with fundraising.
On Tuesday, through a 1-minute, 40-second video shared by one of the student council advisers, Melanie Preston, students revealed the total that will be donated to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis: $4,257.23.
The school’s fundraising brings awareness to the research and clinical programming Riley offers for kids and their families.
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The student council’s fundraising for Riley this past school year started with No Shave November. After three weeks of fundraising, nine Brownstown Central Community School Corp. staff members collected $1,593.58 for the cause. Blake Hackman was the winner.
Students then got involved by setting up an online donation page using the BCHS Riley TeamRaiser portal. Then each month, there were fundraising opportunities for them.
In February, the school conducted a fundraiser with Laura Jo’s Cookies for Kids. Through a weeklong cookie sale, the Miracle Makers totaled more than $1,000, which meant more than $500 would go to Riley Hospital.
Fundraising was supposed to be capped off with the school’s third Riley Dance Marathon, but that was canceled because of schools closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each of the last two years, the school had raised around $2,300.
The video starts with Riley Nuss saying despite not being able to conduct the final event, they still wanted to celebrate how much money was raised.
"Thank you to our generous business sponsors and all of the students and staff at Brownstown Central High School for your help," she says.
Then she says it’s time for the big reveal, which is done by other students showing one number at a time.
"We were hooping to raise a lot of money for you," Katherine Benter says before shooting a basketball outside her home. "And we sure did," she says after the ball swishes through the net.
The first number is revealed by Abby Stuckwisch. Before doing a handstand, she says, "We are hands down for you, Riley." Then she holds up a piece of paper with 4 on it.
"We are so grateful for what you do," Grant Elliott says while grating a block of cheese and then stopping to hold up a paper with 2 on it.
"You make a hospital feel like a home," Chloe Carlin says while squatting near home plate at the softball field holding a 5.
"You’ve helped so many kids bloom," Payton Ault says as she holds flowers and a piece of paper with 7 on it while sitting on a bench.
"We’re jumping for joy that we have such a great children’s hospital," Olivia Hackman says after jumping and then holding a piece of paper with a period on it.
Ashlyn Fox makes the shape of a heart with her hands while saying, "We love you, Riley," and then picking up a piece of paper with a 2.
Finally, Karcyn Trueblood says, "Sending you lots of hugs and kisses, Riley" before blowing a kiss and holding a paper with 3.
Addy Krieger is the last student featured in the video.
"I want to say thanks to all of our generous donors and our amazing team of students and staff at Brownstown Central," she said. "As a whole, we were able to bring in $4,257.23. That’s so amazing for Riley Dance Marathon. Thanks, guys."
The video concludes with a final message.
"Thanks again for all the help you have put in to make this year’s fundraising for Riley children’s hospital so successful," the message says. "It is because of your help and the generous donations of businesses in our county that we were able to help out this amazing children’s hospital. Let’s do it again next year."