Wahoo Middle School students present $223.20 raised in a week-long fund raiser for the victims and families affected during the Von Maur shooting. Presenting the money to First National Bank head teller Justin Bruning are (l-r) Baeli Greenwalt, KJ Russ (seated), Darian Coffey, Brook Stuart, Dayna Gulliksen and Rachel Urban.
Wahoo Middle School students present $223.20 raised in a week-long fund raiser for the victims and families affected during the Von Maur shooting. Presenting the money to First National Bank head teller Justin Bruning are (l-r) Baeli Greenwalt, KJ Russ (seated), Darian Coffey, Brook Stuart, Dayna Gulliksen and Rachel Urban.
Wahoo Middle School Students Practice the Spirit of Giving
Students Raise Funds for Von Maur Victims & Families
January 03, 2008
Getting into
the spirit of holiday giving was easy for eighth graders Rachel
Urban and Dayna Gulliksen. Knowing who needed a gift was also
simple: the victims and families affected by the recent Von Maur
shootings in Omaha. So the two leaders organized a one-week fund
raising campaign throughout Wahoo Middle School and raised $223.20.
Von Maur fund raising project leaders Dayna Gulliksen and Rachel Urban poses with First National Bank head teller Justin Bruning after presenting 3.20 raised in a week-long fund raiser for the victims and families affected during the Von Maur shootings.
Von Maur fund raising project leaders Dayna Gulliksen and Rachel Urban poses with First National Bank head teller Justin Bruning after presenting 3.20 raised in a week-long fund raiser for the victims and families affected during the Von Maur shootings.
Accompanied
by sixth grade representatives Baeli Greenwalt and KJ Russ and
seventh grade representatives Darian Coffey and Brook Stuart,
sponsor John Harris and the group headed to an Omaha First National
Bank branch, on December 21, to present the money
raised. First National Bank head teller Justin Bruning, acting
on behalf of the greater United Way of the Midlands Von Maur
Memorial Fund, gratefully accepted the donation and praised the
young leaders for their efforts and caring attitude.
"This will
touch a lot of people's hearts," Bruning told the
group.
Wahoo Middle School students observe the snowflakes that were part of the impromptu memorial that was left at Von Maur after the shootings.
Wahoo Middle School students observe the snowflakes that were part of the impromptu memorial that was left at Von Maur after the shootings.
After the
presentation, the students proceeded to the Westroads Mall. Upon
entering the food court entrance, their attention
was immediately captured by a large Christmas tree adorned
with snowflakes made by well-wishers and left outside the store
doors at an impromptu memorial in the days following the shootings.
Written on the snowflakes were messages of hope, love and support
by hundreds of well-wishers across the Midlands. The middle
schoolers remained gathered around the tree for a long time,
thoughtfully reading the many messages and later walked to the Von
Maur store to see the eight memorial wreaths, each inscribed with
the message, "We Remember".
"As Mr.
Bruning said, giving touches hearts," sponsor John Harris reminded
the students.
Without a
doubt, many hearts were touched by Rachel and Dayna's
efforts.