Thorburn and his wife, Sara, worked with the St. Louis Blues and the Blues for Kids Foundation to organize a fundraiser for Flynn Park Elementary School at the April 4 game against the Blackhawks. Fans purchased raffle tickets for a chance to meet a player after the game, and a special silent auction that featured game-worn jerseys and autographed canvases also supported the cause.
"We're still in shock. Our goal was way lower than 20,000, I can tell you that," Chris Thorburn said of the fundraising efforts. "I can't thank everyone enough. Former teammates, teammates from the Blues, the Blues organization, Blues Alumni, the fans… there were so many people involved and we had no idea this would be possible. The fans, even just their words of support, we couldn't have envisioned anything like this. We're super grateful."
Out of necessity, the classroom's teacher, Sierra Weber, would purchase school supplies and even desks for her classroom using her own money. Now, thanks to this donation, she won't have to - and the students will also get opportunities to take fields trips for hands-on learning, which wasn't possible before.
"It's just absolutely incredible, just the thoughtfulness behind it all and how so many people came together to support it," Weber said of the fundraiser. "It's going to make such a difference to my students and to me. And those kids deserve the world."
"I was humbled, I was overwhelmed," Sara Thorburn said after delivering the check on Thursday. "I can't wait to see what Ms. Weber is going to do with it. I'm excited."
