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- Mountain Ridge High School students raised $126,009 for the Be Brave Baylee Foundation on Friday.
- The fundraiser supports burn survivors and the University of Utah Burn Camp.
- The total school district-wide charity effort raised $1,096,873 for various local causes.
HERRIMAN — Spirits were high in the Mountain Ridge High School auditorium the last day before Christmas break, but Friday's assembly had a special purpose.
Students at the school chose the Be Brave Baylee Foundation as the focus of their Season of Scarlet fundraiser.
"When we were asking about what charities we should do this year, I was like, 'Oh, I actually know the perfect people to help,'" said Mountain Ridge senior Lauren Olsen.
Baylee Hoaldridge was just 15 when she was severely burned in an ATV accident on July 4, 2015. Despite her father's efforts to save her, Baylee spent four months in the University of Utah burn unit, underwent 27 surgeries, and later died in November 2015.
"When Baylee passed away (I was devastated). ... I miss her so much because she was such the life of the party," said Baylee's father, BJ Hoaldridge.
In her honor, the Hoaldridge family created the Be Brave Baylee Foundation to support burn survivors.
Mountain Ridge High students spent the last three weeks doing odd jobs and putting on concerts to raise money for the foundation, working tirelessly for a good cause.
"We go door to door asking for donations," Olsen said. "It's just amazing to see all the incredible effort that students have put in to help other people that they don't even know."
Much of the money raised goes toward the University of Utah Burn Camp, a program that provides burn survivors with a place to heal and connect. They offer a preschool camp, an adolescent river trip and a young adult program.
"To see kids of their own age come together and raise this kind of money for them is so profound," said Micayla Kotarski, the University of Utah Burn Camp program director.
The students raised $116,009. Additionally, the mayor added $10,000, bringing the total to $126,009.
"I'm overwhelmed," BJ Hoaldridge said. "I can't believe all that these kids have done. They're absolutely amazing."
"That funds up to three years of our camp programming," Kotarski said.
The money will also help the Hoaldridges continue to provide "Baylee Bags" care packages to patients and families at the University of Utah Burn Center.
Ten years later, Baylee is still making a difference, kept alive by the generosity, energy and heart of these students.
"She would just be so excited and thank them for helping take care of her burn family," BJ Hoaldridge said.
Since Baylee's passing, the Hoaldridge family has donated $1 million to the University of Utah Burn Center, including a donation presented at the hospital this afternoon, helping support burn survivors and honor her legacy.
All six high schools in the Jordan School District raised money for local charities this month. The total for all six schools is $1,096,873.
- Bingham High School: $120,649 (Make-A-Wish Utah, Little Miracles, Hope Warriors)
- Copper Hills High School: $227,796 (Local Families in Need in the West Jordan Community)
- Herriman High School: $180,545 (The Giving Grinch)
- Mountain Ridge High School; $126,009 (Be Brave Baylee Foundation)
- Riverton High School: $257,300 (We Give Hope Foundation, Jordan School District's Mental Health Access Program)
- West Jordan High School: $184,574 (Indy's Ohana)
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Emma Benson
