Not in Sheila Miller's wildest dreams did she imagine a giant erasable check would generate so much emotion.
Miller and Alyssa All, who guide the Fairfield Sunshine Club, would have been happy writing five digits on a ceremonial check for the Riley's Hospital for Children. It was when those five digits more than tripled that blew Miller and All away.
“It exceeded all of our expectations,” Miller said following the check ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Fairfield Jr/Sr High School. “I would have been thrilled with $10,000. It all helps. But to see that final number blew us away.”
The Sunshine Club welcomed Susan Miles to the Fairfield campus to present a physical donation check of $34,747.95 to Riley's. Miles, the Kids Caring & Sharing Projects Officer for the Riley Children's Foundation, was astounded by the amount as Miller wrote it out on the ceremonial check, remarking, “This amount is unbelievable. Normally, we get a few thousand. This total is just spectacular.”
Fairfield revived its Riley Night two years ago after years of dormancy, this year stepping up the exposure for the event including a King and Queen Court and a Riley Rally series of events at each of the three Fairfield elementary schools. Miller mentioned the addition of the courts helped broaden the scope, but having people like Fairfield senior Allison Tinsley, herself a Riley patient, and Fairfield boys basketball coach Derek Hinen, who has two nieces accepting Riley services, to add to the awareness cycle were huge.
“Next year we want to get the elementary schools more involved,” Miller said. “We want to see how much the elementary schools can raise and maybe add some competitions between the schools. Alyssa and I already have some ideas written down. We want to get the staff and students more involved, and reach out to more people who have utilized Riley.”