Students at Kelso High School became the first school to raise more than $2,700 for Ronald McDonald House this past semester, in a campus-wide fundraising effort organized by the school’s DECA marketing program. Through “miracle minute” coin drives and by selling paper, heart-shaped decorations called Helping Hearts, the Kelso students succeeded in collecting $2721.06 for RMHC.
The group worked closely with local McDonald’s Owner/Operators Val and Matt Hadwin from North Star Restaurants, who helped the group secure a special appearance by Ronald McDonald at a Kelso High School football game, where more than $800 was raised.
The amount raised by the Kelso DECA students can cover the cost of one family’s stay at Ronald McDonald House for 32 days, but they aren’t done yet. The Kelso group has set a goal to raise $5,000 for RMHC this year, and is planning more fundraising events for the winter sports season.