Two sisters at Hamilton Southeastern High School, senior Natalie Wilkinson and sophomore Claire Wilkinson, started a Make-A-Wish club at the school last month. From left, Alexis Macha, treasurer; Kaitlyn Weldy, spirit leader; Natalie Wilkinson, co-founder; Amy Nelson, a Make- A-Wish representative; Courtney Dallas, vice president; Claire Wilkinson, co-founder; and Lulu Black, advertiser of the Make-A-Wish club. Not pictured is the club's secretary Ana Johnson. (Submitted photo) — Two sisters at Hamilton Southeastern High School, senior Natalie Wilkinson and sophomore Claire Wilkinson, started a Make-A-Wish club at the school last month. From left, Alexis Macha, treasurer; Kaitlyn Weldy, spirit leader; Natalie Wilkinson, co-founder; Amy Nelson, a Make- A-Wish representative; Courtney Dallas, vice president; Claire Wilkinson, co-founder; and Lulu Black, advertiser of the Make-A-Wish club. Not pictured is the club’s secretary Ana Johnson. (Submitted photo)

By Eric Kuznar

Hamilton Southeastern High School sisters Natalie Wilkinson, a 17 year-old senior, and sophomore Claire Wilkinson, 15, created a Make-A-Wish club at the school to help grant wishes in Hamilton County.

Natalie said they drew inspiration from their father, Jeff Wilkinson, who is president of the board of the local Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“We have been at the Make-A-Wish resort down in Disney. We volunteer there every year,” Natalie said. “We found out that in Hamilton County they need a lot of money for the wishes. We decided to start a club to help with the fundraising.”

“We got inspired by going to Disney World and seeing all of those children,” Claire said.

The sisters held a callout meeting Aug. 4. They expected 70 poeple to attend but 140 people came and joined the club.

Natalie said their goal is to raise $8,000 by the end of the school year. That is how much it costs to grant one child’s wish. To raise the money, the club will hold one service project every month.

Events will include an Indiana Fever game Sept. 16, and maybe a haunted house in October, along with a 5k race in November. HSE might also be a stop on the Make-A-Wish request-a-thon in December. Natalie said the club members attended a Sept. 2 polo match that raised $6,300 for Make-A-Wish.

Natalie said the club is selling Fever tickets for $20 each, with $8 from each ticket sold going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“It feels like I am more involved every single week,” Natalie said. “Now it is like I am constantly helping people, and that is really rewarding.”

Natalie plans to attend college next year. Claire plans to continue helping the club grant more wishes.