Uliano​: A Wish Come True

SALEM, NH — Each year, there are always motivated students involved with the Salem High School Key Club who all have the same goal: help their community prosper. Take last year, the 2015-2016 school year, as an example. The Key Club was able to raise $10,000 for a Make-A-Wish child, a child suffering from a life-threatening illness, through a benefit dinner.

By Serena Uliano, Key Club Editor

This year, the executive board, student officers of the Key Club, decided once again that they wanted to make an impact in their community. Last fall, all of the officers agreed that they wanted to do the same again for another child, Sophie, so her wish of visiting Disney World with her family comes true. When the executive board presented the idea to the other Key Club members, all again, readily agreed to take on this task to help grant Sophie's wish.

Although the benefit dinner was March 18, 2017, planning for this special evening began last fall. Each officer and member was assigned certain jobs. For instance, the secretary was in charge of finding local restaurants to donate food for the dinner while the members collected and created raffles that would be auctioned off during the event. Together, officers and members worked to consider every aspect and solve any problem well in advance of the dinner so the night would be a success.

And a success it was! Nearly 300 guests, including the superintendent of the Salem School District Michael Delahanty, the Make-A-Wish New Hampshire Programs Director Holly Blanchard, and our Make-A-Wish child Sophie attended the benefit dinner with her family on March 18. Throughout the evening, talented students charmed guests with creative performances such as baton twirling, chemistry demonstrations, and tap dancing. Face painting and picture taking with Disney princesses were available all night, and over 100 raffle items lined tables ready for the attendees to try their luck and possibly win. Delicious food, with the entrée, donated from the Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, and desserts from the Love + Flour Bakery in Salem, were served to all of the guests. Needless to say, everyone, from guests to members who worked the dinner, had an enjoyable evening.

The Key Club would like to mention that the Make-A-Wish Benefit Dinner would never have been made possible without the support and donations from so many, including family members, the Salem High School staff, local restaurants and businesses, and our sponsoring Kiwanis Club. Will Sophie and her family be going to Disney? Yes! With their support, the SHS Key Club was able to raise over $11,000 to help make Sophie’s wish come true.