Make-A-Wish collects $400,000 after flood cuts Jolly Holiday Lights

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Eight days after flooding forced Make-A-Wish Iowa to shut down its biggest fundraiser — Jolly Holiday Lights — the organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions has raised more than $400,000 from donors, said spokeswoman Jamie Rasko. That is twice the projected shortfall. A #bringthejolly campaign, meant to fill the gap in financing caused by the mishap, brought in $50,000 from Hy-Vee Inc., $40,000 from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co., and $20,000 each from The Iowa Clinic, Mercy Medical Center, UnityPoint Health and Wells Fargo & Co., among the larger donations. Other gifts of $10,000 or more came from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, FBL Financial Services Inc., Businessolver Inc., Des Moines Area Association of Realtors, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 347, Kabel Business Services, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Fareway Stores Inc. and Des Moines Area Community College. In addition, $85,000 of the $400,000 raised so far has come from 1,238 individuals. The extra money will help repair equipment and pay for more trips, Rasko said. The group plans to grant 192 wishes in Iowa over a year.