Date: November 2025
School: Acequia Elementary
Wish Delivered: Teacher field trip
Teacher Heather Hepworth says " I am writing to ask if I may submit a wish as a building principal. Over the summer, I have been raising funds to provide my staff with the opportunity to attend Jae’s Foundation, a program dedicated to mental health and suicide awareness. The cost is about $200 per person, and I currently have enough funds to send 12 teachers. I have 22 additional teachers who would still need funding. If possible, I would love to request support so more staff can attend. The funds could be directed straight to Jae’s Foundation. Even being able to send 10 more teachers would make a tremendous impact."
Wish Amount: $2,000
Date: November 2025
School: West Minico Middle
Wish Delivered: Classroom books
Teacher Amanda J Hernandez says "Many of my 8th graders have not yet seen themselves as readers. For some, reading has been a challenge or even a source of frustration. I want to give them a restart — a new chance to connect with books that are meaningful, exciting, and relevant to their lives. A class set will put these stories in every student’s hands at the same time, creating a shared reading experience that fosters discussion, empathy, and imagination. These texts will not only help students build literacy skills but will also encourage empathy, critical thinking, and a lasting love of reading. With your support, I can place diverse, engaging books in the hands of all students — helping them restart their reading journey with hope and excitement."
Wish Amount: $690.95
Date: November 2025
School: Shelley High School
Wish Delivered: Graphing Calculators
Teacher Pam Kantack says "Our math department is struggling to have enough graphing calculators for our math program. Most of ours are very old and they are starting to not work anymore. We would love some help replacing them so that students can excel in courses like Algebra 2, Geometry, Statistics, Pre-calculus and Calculus. Students often cannot afford these and the school provides as many as they can to check out, but we are running out of ones to be able to check out to students."
Wish Amount: $2,197.08
Date: November 2025
School: Praire Jr/Sr High School
Wish Delivered: Project based learning materials
Teacher Casey Metz says "I teach a course about applying mathematics to jobs in trade. These funds buy us hardwood to use with our own shop tools to build two porch swings, applying trigonometry, physics, and algebra in a college-level math project. We can then sell the swings to fund future projects!"
Wish Amount: $2,208
Date: October 2025
School: Forrest M Bird Charter
Wish Delivered: Chemical hood
Teacher Rachel Castor says "This is our first year as a STEM High School! Students at our Title 1 public school can now graduate with a STEM diploma. As a charter school, we are not eligible to run tax levies so all of our funding comes from the state budget. While we have significantly less funding than other local public schools, we attract students who benefit from smaller class sizes and our project-based curriculum. One of the pieces of equipment we desperately need to be able to run a fun, hands-on, SAFE chemistry classroom, is a chemical hood. Without a hood we can't do chemistry experiments! This purchase would benefit all the students at our high school in their required and elective science classes and make more science projects available to them."
Wish Amount: $2,795
Date: October 2025
School: South Fork Elementary
Wish Delivered: Classroom Chairs
Teacher Junsong Su says "The chairs in our 4th-grade classroom have been in use since the school was built, and they are now in poor condition. Many are falling apart—the feet are coming off and scratching the carpet, and the seats are detaching, making them unsafe and uncomfortable for students. This not only poses a safety risk but also disrupts the learning environment. To support our students’ education and well-being, we are requesting funding to purchase 30 new navy blue chairs to replace the broken ones. These new chairs will provide a safer, more comfortable, and visually cohesive classroom setting, helping students stay focused and engaged in their learning. Your support will make a meaningful difference in creating a better educational experience for our students."
Wish Amount: $1,603
Date: October 2025
School: Declo Elementary
Wish Delivered: HVAC System Unit
Teacher Amanda Hill says "Declo Elementary classrooms frequently exceed 90°F during the warmer months, which makes it nearly impossible for students to concentrate or engage fully with their lessons. By providing climate control, these HVAC units will create a comfortable, focused environment where students can excel academically without the distractions caused by heat. During wildfire season, smoke from surrounding states fills the air, but we currently have no way to filter it out. The HVAC units will not only provide necessary heating and cooling but will also improve air quality by filtering out harmful particles, ensuring that students and staff are breathing safe, clean air. By funding these HVAC units, Idaho Lottery would be making a lasting investment in the health, comfort, and academic success of our students."
Wish Amount: $5,879
Date: September 2025
School: Middleton Middle School
Wish Delivered: Project based learning materials
Teacher Amanda Harris says "As a STEM educator, I believe students learn best when their ideas move beyond paper and into their hands. My classroom thrives on project-based learning where middle school students design, test, and refine real solutions to real problems. The challenge? With 30+ students eager to build, managing tools safely and ensuring every child gets meaningful hands-on time can be difficult. That’s why I’m requesting 10 ChompSaw Maker Bundles from ChompShop. These tools are designed for safe, accessible prototyping, rated safe for children as young as three, while still offering the industry-related skills my students need as young engineers and inventors. Each bundle includes the ChompSaw, Inventor’s Workbook, and accessories that allow students to cut, punch, and score cardboard with precision."
Wish Amount: $2,541
