My name is Lucas Cone, and I'm honored to be nominated for this year's Mr. West Valley contest. As a Mr. West Valley nominee, I'll participate in various fundraising events leading up to an organized pageant in late February, where I'll be judged on my performance, as well as the total amount of money I've raised over the course of the contest. Although the title of “Mr. West Valley” is awarded to the contestant who raises the most money, the point of the contest is to raise funds and awareness for the kids of Children's Miracle Network at Yakima Valley Memorial and Children's Village. In addition to raising money for a great cause, the Mr. West Valley contest is a lot of fun for our school and for the community.  

In third grade, I moved to West Valley all the way from Cooperstown, New York. At first, I dreaded moving here. I was nervous about making new friends and fitting in with the crowd. As time went on, I made friends and grew to love our community, which is why since then I’ve become more and more involved in school and community events. I’ve participated in a pretty wide variety of activities around the school over the years, like ASB, Drama Club, Swim Team, AV Production, and National Honor Society, to name the most recent. I’ve even traveled on an exchange trip to Germany with my classmates. I’ve participated in some non-school-related activities, too, like the student section of the Yakima Herald: Unleashed, as well as the Warehouse Theatre Company.

I can’t imagine the person I’d be today without my experiences at West Valley. It's great to live in a community where kids with special needs are valued and accepted. My little brother, Lance, has special needs, but since moving to West Valley, my family likes to joke that he’s a local celebrity. Whenever we go out, someone recognizes him and greets him with a smile. While Lance hasn’t used the facilities at Children’s Village, I know the type of kids that have, and I know that they possess strength beyond their outward appearance, but they need your help. By donating, you are helping improve the lives of these kids. 

I am asking for any size donation; any amount will be greatly appreciated. 100% of all donations go directly to the Children’s Miracle Network at Yakima Valley Memorial and Children’s Village, where they will be used to serve thousands of children every year through hospital treatment, educational programs, and family services. In addition to donating, sharing this page with others who you think may want to donate would also be greatly appreciated.

If you would like to donate by check, please make it payable to The Memorial Foundation and include “Lucas” in the memo. Checks can be mailed to me at 7208 Englewood Hill Pl. Yakima, WA 98908 or The Memorial Foundation at 3111 Tieton Drive, Yakima, WA 98902.

Mr. West Valley: 

https://www.justgiving.com/team/mrwestvalley2022 

Children’s Village:

https://www.yakimachildrensvillage.org/index.asp 

The YouthWorks Program: 

https://memfound.org/get-involved/youthworks-council

The Memorial Foundation

https://memfound.org/about