B.C. elementary school students have collectively raised $25,594 for the Kids Change Star Bank Program, a student fundraising initiative of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC and Yukon.
Kids as young as kindergarten age collected coins in their star-shaped banks throughout the school year, before remitting them on World Wish Day April 29, a day marking the anniversary of the first wish every granted by the foundation.
Money raised from the program will be used to grant wishes to youth ages three to 17 who are battling life-threatening conditions.
The star-shaped banks are the students' to keep as a reminder of a job well done.
This is the second year of the program, which is aimed strictly at elementary-school aged children to help teach them about the importance of helping others in the community.
This year, the total raised jumped by 47 per cent (last year raised $17,000) with 13 schools participating and more than 3,000 banks in circulation.
"The program is growing by leaps and bounds, but we'd love to have even more schools on board next year," program co-ordinator Kim Fujisawa said in a release. "The kids love it because they get to keep their banks and we make it as easy as possible for the teachers to implement.
"The ultimate lesson in empathy is invaluable and complements what the teachers are already doing in the classroom."
If your elementary school would like to participate in the program next year, contact Fujisawa at 604-688-7944 before Aug. 1, as banks are ordered over the summer and delivered to the schools in September.