Riverton High’s Silver Rush reveals hearts of gold

Riverton High School’s Silver Rush is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a school and community effort to make the world better for someone else. Last year students earned more than $81,000 for the International Rescue Committee, helping them in their humanitarian efforts for refugees and new immigrants. This year, Silver Rush is focused on The Christmas Box House.

The Christmas Box House provides temporary shelter and care for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. They provide mental, emotional and physical care for children through therapy, self-esteem building programs, schooling, and most of all, a home-like environment with people who care. The Christmas Box House serves over 5,000 children each year. Its motto is: “Every child deserves a childhood,” and the students at Riverton High want to help.

This year, the students are focusing on really involving the community. On Dec. 1 they will hold a special kick-off community meeting at 7 p.m. in the school’s tech atrium, 12476 South 2700 West, where they will invite the community to join them in their efforts. They will introduce the Christmas Box House charity and provide information on what community members can do as part of Silver Rush, including monetary donations or donations of items from a wish list.

Silver Rush will run until Dec. 23 and donations can be taken to Riverton High School. Various local businesses such as Chic-fil-A, Chili’s, Wendy’s and Arctic Circle will also donate a portion of their sales on designated days to Silver Rush. These dates will be posted on the individual business marquees and on the school website, http://www.rhs.jordan.k12.ut.us.

There will also be various activities that community members can participate in, such as a game night at Fongo Bongo, 12600 South Redwood Road in the Peterson’s shopping center, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 5 and the Silver Dash 5k on Dec. 19. Riverton High School will also host a special benefit concert with the headline artist TBA. More information about the benefit concert can be found on the school website. The community is also invited to share in the celebration at the final assembly on Dec. 23 at 1:30 p.m.

Various groups from the school are also doing their part to help. There will be a choir concert on Dec. 7, a basketball game on Dec. 9 which Christmas Box kids will be attending, the Mr. and Mrs. Silver Rush Pageant on Dec. 12, a band concert on Dec. 13, an orchestra concert on Dec. 15, and a drama improv night on Dec. 20, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the Christmas Box House. Tickets to any of these events can be purchased from the school’s main office or at the door. Student body officers and other students will also be going door-to-door throughout the Riverton and Bluffdale area to do odd jobs in exchange for donations.

“The Silver Rush brings the school closer, like one big family,” said Cami Crump, student body historian. She described the final assembly as “very exciting and emotional” as they look back at what they were able to do together as a student body.

Silver Rush started out small in 1999 when the school opened, but has grown in leaps and bounds since then, raising over $600,000 for various charities over the years. Riverton High was nationally recognized in the May 2011 edition of Reader’s Digest and has received the Commission on Youth Award numerous times for its efforts to help people.

For some, a fundraiser can become about the money or the recognition, but for the students at Riverton High, it’s about making a difference in people’s lives. Not only are they making a difference in other’s lives, but the students are changing their own lives too.

“When people graduate from Riverton High, [the Silver Rush] is something they never forget. It has such an impact on their lives,” Cami said.