In previous years, the Raptor community joined forces during the last week of January to accomplish one goal: grant a child’s wish. Afterward, a child chosen by the Make a Wish foundation could be off to Disneyland or sent on their dream shopping spree.

   Student Leadership is in the works of reestablishing all that occurred during this week, previously called Winter Wish Week, and extending it throughout the whole month of February, making it Miracle Month.

    “This year we wanted to have more of a personal touch here at Eaglecrest, so we decided to turn it into a month in order to raise more money as well as help some students with special needs here,” Student Leadership advisor Melissa Laferrara said.

   However, the switch from Winter Wish Week to Miracle Month isn’t drastic. Previously, a child with a life-threatening illness would have their wish granted through the Make a Wish foundation. This year, student leadership decided to switch to a different foundation: Easter Seals.

   “Easter Seals is a foundation that provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy, so that people living with autism and other disabilities can learn, live, work, and play in our communities,” Laferrara said.

    Student Leadership decided on Easter Seals with reluctantcy, with the thought that choosing a more well known foundation would seem more beneficial to the community. After some time, though, they picked Easter Seals.

   “I talked to my dad, who is the president of an organization called Iron Pony that consists of about 120 bikers who ride motorcycles to raise money for the Rocky Mountain Easter Seals Camp,” junior Lauren Howell said. “After lots of research and conversations with administration, we decided to choose Easter Seals with the hope to potentially help send children from the Cherry Creek School District ILC.”

    The entire month of February will be dedicated to raising money to send students with special needs within our school to the Rocky Mountain Easter Seals camp in the summer.

    “[Easter Seals] is an excellent way to help students with needs and their families,” Laferrara said.

    All of the money raised will go toward sending students from the ILC program at our school to the Rocky Mountain Easter Seals Camp, where they will participate in activities such as swimming, camping, hiking, dances, zip-lining, and more.

   There are plenty of ways for students and the community to contribute to Miracle Month: benefit dinners, Miracle Minutes, the Swish for a Wish basketball game, spirit week, and more. The goal is to reach $20,000 — which is easier than it seems.

    “We did the math, and if every student here donated $8, we would reach our goal and then some,” Laferrara said.