Members of the Mentone Elementary School student council display the Riley license plate earned during their recent fundraiser. Also pictured in the back are, from left, Lee Ann Rock of MES and Riley’s Susan Miles.

MENTONE — Mentone Elementary School was visited by a representative of Riley Children’s Foundation on Friday, May 3, to be lauded for their fundraising efforts to help the non-profit in its continued efforts to help ailing children.

Susan Miles is the program officer for Riley’s Kids Caring & Sharing program. She made stops throughout the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation before arriving in Mentone where the school’s student council led fundraisers and raised $2,500 for Riley’s research efforts. Miles brought a wagon with her that will be taken to the hospital, along with a license plate that will be on display at the school.

“The wagon will actually be in use at the hospital for the families who are there,” said Miles. “They had to raise at least $2,500 to sponsor the wagon, so that’s huge. They did an amazing job.”

Mentone wasn’t the only TVSC school to earn accolades.

“I was at Akron this morning and I know we got a gift today from the middle school and I expect one from the high school as well, so the entire corporation is engaged,” Miles said. “They (Akron Elementary School) raised more than $5,000, so they get two license plates. Akron is always one of my top elementary schools in the state.”

Miles and Mentone Elementary School’s Lee Ann Rock spoke to the student council prior to a presentation made to the entire student body.

“This stays at our school and it’s our reminder of our coin wars that we had in March,” said Rock, referring to the fundraising efforts the students used to collect the cash.

“Schools can send money to the hospital,” Miles told the students. “Schools in the state are raising funds to support research at Riley, so you’re helping the doctors and scientists there create new medications and new ways of helping kids who have different diseases. Research is very, very important and we’re very lucky in Indiana to have schools supporting that. Every dollar that you raise, we’re able to get back from the National Institute of Health in grant form, $10. I don’t think any bank gives you that kind of return.”