By Mark Ambrogi

To celebrate the Make-A-Wish Request-a-Thon’s 20th anniversary, the organization is setting up three pit stops at Indianapolis-area schools.

Hamilton Southeastern High School has been chosen as a drop-off site for the Request-A-Thon to collect funds for Make-A-Wish for Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The site will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 at an outside tent by the school, 13910 E. 126th St., Fishers.

The Request-A-Thon is on 99.5 WZPL for 36 hours Dec. 1-2. WZPL’s Smiley Morning Show hosts the fundraising broadcast, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Radio station callers can request a song in exchange for a donation.

“We’re trying to drum up some interest so the community can get behind it,” said Benji Banks, a Fishers resident on the Make-A-Wish advisory board.

HSE senior Natalie Wilkinson and her sister Claire, a sophomore, created a Make-A-Wish club at the school. Their father, Jeff, is president of the foundation board of directors.

“I’m pretty sure students will help at the tent in after-school hours. We’re still trying to find out what availability they have during the day,” said Banks, who works at Forum Credit Union.

Banks said either he or Michael Carfi, a Fishers resident on the Indiana advisory board, will be at the tent during the hours.

Banks started volunteering for Make-A-Wish three years ago and has been a member of the advisory board for two years.

“We want to enhance the fundraising efforts, but we want to create more awareness for Make-A-Wish in the community. Through the schools is a good way to do that,” Banks said.

The 2015 Request-A-Thon raised more than $624,000 and granted 78 wishes.

The other Indianapolis high school pit stops are Perry Meridian and Bishop Chatard. There also will be a pit stop at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.