A bunch of big wigs pulled up to Davanza’s last week with appetites and excitement.They were Jeremy Ranch Elementary School students, and the trip was the hard-earned result of their fundraising efforts that brought the Jeremy Ranch Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization almost $50,000 this year. Many of the little VIPs had earned at least $500, though a quarter of the participants were randomly selected to include kids who might not have the same resources to raise money.“Parley’s, McPolin and Jeremy all do a fun run at the beginning of the year, and all of the proceeds go to support the Jeremy Ranch Elementary Parent Teacher Organization,” said Anna Wildman, who has been the group’s president for two years. “All of the money goes back into the school to support our teachers and our students.”She said it provides the funding for things like the school’s Halloween festival, teacher grants, a spelling bee and a book fair.“Giving students a stake in the game enables them to connect,” she said. “It’s really fun to see the kids get out in the community, obviously not only calling their friends and family, but when you see lemonade stands popping up in the neighborhood.”This year, she said, some kids even constructed wooden birdhouses to sell to their neighbors.“We have tons of really great ways that kids can raise money,” she said.Utah’s state government consistently spends less than almost every other state on public education. According to Wildman, that relative lack of funding emphasizes the need for things like the fundraiser.“The funds that we raise are so critical to being able to provide the cherry-on-top programs that our students and our faculty really need, whether that’s teacher appreciation or art programs or additional theater programs that we don’t normally have through our school,” Wildman said.Students who didn’t hit the $500 mark could win other prizes for smaller contributions, things like stickers, custom Croc charms or, if they raised $300, a chance to pour slime on their principal, a spectacle that took place Tuesday.And just like the Davanza’s trip, a quarter of the kids who participated in the gooey festivity were randomly selected.“Our principal is such a great sport to put himself up there, to put on the snorkel mask and be willing to get slimed,” Wildman said about the event. “We’re so lucky that he’s willing to do that.”  The post Jeremy Ranch students get VIP treatment for fundraising efforts appeared first on Park Record.