A Merrill High School freshman never thought that a report she wrote would culminate in a fundraiser with the Saginaw Sting indoor league football
team. Ellie Bolger, daughter of Darcey Kramer and Mike Bolger of Merrill, wrote an essay on the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Students, in a class vote, chose Toys for Tots as the charity to donate money to. “Knowing that not a lot of kids have a lot and being able to help out someone makes a difference in your life,” said Bolger, 15. A charity flag football game will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the high school, 555 W. Alice. Saginaw Sting players will play against Merrill High students. Tara Mager, a Merrill High guidance counselor and an instructor for the school’s leadership course, said this is the first year officials offered the class, giving students experience with planning an event. Stephanie Wirtz, the other instructor for the course and youth initiatives and FORCE coordinator at the Saginaw Community Foundation, a nonprofit Saginaw-based organization, said all decisions were left up to the students. “When it came down to it, they figured a charity football game would be a lot of fun if they could get the Sting involved,” she said.
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