The Putnam Examiner

Students Make a Difference at Putnam Valley High School

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Thomas Conklin, Chief Operating Officer of the Make a Wish Foundation’s Hudson Valley chapter speaks during last Thursday’s board meeting.
Thomas Conklin, Chief Operating Officer of the Make a Wish Foundation’s Hudson Valley chapter speaks during last Thursday’s board meeting.

By Janine Bowen

The Putnam Valley High School Make a Difference club was awarded the district’s Pride in Putnam Valley award at Thursday’s board of education meeting for dedication and commitment to community service.

The club, which consists of around 60 students, has raised thousands of dollars for various charities over the years by holding a number of fundraisers. Their most recent effort, a “Stay Awake A-Thon” was able to raise $4,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation.

“What you have done will truly make a difference in the lives of a Wish family. They will never be the same,” said Thomas Conklin, Chief Operating Officer of the Make a Wish Foundation’s Hudson Valley chapter as several students presented him with a check.

Interim Superintendent Frances Wills also expressed her pride in the club and noted that it has a lasting effect on the students who participate.

“Those students…that we see before us have learned something that they will take with them forever.  This will be part of their legacy…this is a remarkable program and the way it’s done here is unique,” she said.

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