Make-a-Wish Donation Presented at “Christmas in July” Party
Crew Members who participated in the castle playhouse build and presented the check to Make-a-Wish Assistant Beverly Gorr (in red) at the July 18 party included: (Left to Right): Mark Klingensmith, Kyle Totos, Alex Booher, Kayla Totos,Julie McGreevy,and Kate Oberneder. Other Venturing Crew members missing from photo included Jenna McGreevy, Alicia Tripp, Troy Dinga, Mariah Pampeno and Alexis Pampeno (submitted photo).
by Jonathan Weaver
All the work Venturing Crew #630 teens put into building the “Enchanted Castle of Dreams” paid off recently when two wishes were fulfilled.
After the Ford City teens hosted “A Merry and Bright Christmas in July” party in July at Manor Township Fire Hall, Crew leaders Paul and Barbara Klukan received a letter from the Make-a-Wish Foundation about two local children that benefited.
The winning ticket for the eight-foot by 11-foot “Enchanted Castle of Dreams” was drawn Christmas Eve at 84 Lumber in West Kittanning. About $9,500 in tickets were sold in the raffle. A fourth-grader from Lenape Elementary won the raffle.
While none of those local “Wish kids” from the Make-a-Wish party wanted to be named or interviewed, Klukan said a boy ‘wished’ for a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. and a girl “wished” for her bedroom to be redone with a new bed and furniture.
Klukan said about 40 total “wish” kids attended the July party – about 200 total people when parents and siblings were included.
“The kids really enjoyed it,” Klukan said.
Make-A-Wish® Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia Marketing/Communications Manager Dana Antkowiak called the Venturing Crew teens “an awesome group of kids” and their work on the castle playhouse “amazing.”
Last summer, Crew President Jenna McGreevy of North Buffalo Township estimated it took about two months for the teens and young adults to complete the castle – which included a tower loft, electricity through a chandelier, and outside lights.
Originally slated to b announced at the Ford City Light-Up festivities November 29, additional tickets were sold after and members were awaiting the result of ticket sales from a New York materials donor.
About $8,000 in material was donated for construction. Any materials that were not donated in the past were bought through the venturing crew
Local News | jweaver August 20, 2015
