St. Charles teenager’s

By Chris Duggan

Krista Goszewski decided to hold her first charity fund-raiser in her front yard when she was 5. She raised $15. 

This year, the 14-year-old St. Charles girl’s Children’s Fun Fair did much better. The one-day event raised more than $10,000. 

Krista gave the proceeds to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Metro St. Louis. That group provides trips and other things for seriously ill children. 

Krista said,  “It was very small at first. I was just looking for a fun thing to do. Basically, it involved my red wagon and some rubber ducks from the bathtub.”

This year’s fair had 10 booths, a variety of games, a lollipop tree, an inflatable moonwalk, music, entertainment and a lot of other activities. 

The St. Charles Police Department brought vehicles. The city fire department loaned a large fire truck, with a lift basket for rides. 

There also was a raffle with donated items from various local businesses. That included a first prize of a television from Sam’s Club. Second prize was a Nintendo 64 game system from Best Buy. Third prize was a year’s supply of Blue Bunny ice cream.

The staff this year included about 30 of Krista’s family and friends. There was a crowd of about 300. 

But, Krista said, “Most of the money we raise comes from outside donations, not from the fair itself. The fair is the thing that ties it all together.” 

From the small beginning nine years ago, the fair has grown each year. 

What Krista called her first “big” year was 1996, when she was 9. It raised $117. 

“That was a lot of money as far as I was concerned,” she said. “That was the first year I gave the money to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.” 

In 1997, the fair earned $550. The next year, $4,200. In 1999, it raised $5,400. 

Each year, Krista sets a fund-raising goal. The 2000 goal was $5,500. She nearly doubled that, raising more than $10,000. 

The fair takes a lot of planning. Each year, Krista starts work in April. She works every day for more than 2 1/2 months before the event. The fair is held in June each year. 

With her track record of fund-raising, Krista has attracted a lot of attention. She has received media attention, with radio, television and newspaper coverage. She has received a Millennium Dreamer Award, sponsored by McDonald’s and Disney. 

She has been given a Gateway Young Achiever of the Year award. This goes to only a select few youngsters across the country. 

The Make-a-Wish Foundation has named her a teen advisor. She makes public appearances for the foundation.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to talk to people. It’s nice to know that other teens and kids want to get involved,” she said. 

She also gets to meet the kids and their families who are helped by the foundation. “The way they feel toward the Make-a-Wish Foundation and towards me--it’s an awesome feeling,” she said. 

Krista’s parents, John and Kim Goszewski, are proud of her. 

Kim said, “The fair is a lot of fun and hard work. We are totally supportive and very proud. This is a great thing she does. It’s so exciting the day of the fair.”

Now, Krista is starting to think of the future. This year, she’s a freshman at Duchesne Catholic High School in St. Charles. She loves school and is active in many activities. She’s in dance, singing and acting. 

She wants to pursue a career in performing arts. 

Krista said, “I’ve wondered how long I can continue doing the fair. At some point, I can see not having time to do it anymore.” 

But, she might have an answer right in the family. 

“My brother, Tommy, already has told me that he can see the possibility of taking it over when I stop doing it,” she said.