Number of Participants: 100
Hours Donated: 8
Value of Time Served: $27,832
Event Amount Raised: $6,249
Organization / Team: Section 8 Cheerleading NICE Committee
Event Type: Children & Youth
Activity: Competitive Cheerleading
Date: December 7, 2025
Location:
Jones Beach
New York, USA
About:
The Nassau County Cheerleading Coaches Association is proud to support philanthropic activities across the island, giving our athletes the opportunity to give back to those in need. The Nassau Interscholastic Community Events (NICE) Committee is headed by Jessica Thompson, the Varsity Coach at Great Neck South High School. Throughout the year, Jessica organizes community service events for the Nassau County Competitive Cheer teams to participate in.
Teams select NICE Representatives, typically seniors, who work with Jess to communicate information to their teams. These representatives are honored at our end of season ceremony if they participate in at least two of the events throughout the season.
For Fall 2025, Section 8 had over 100 cheerleaders participate in 5 different events within the community. As a section, we sold pink items at our games in the month of October, while also wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Jess and the committee designed, sold, and distributed shirts to our teams. All of these sales were then donated to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, where athletes from across the county met to support this important cause. All together, $5,115 was donated to the American Cancer Society from Nassau County Cheerleading.
In conjunction with this charity, our teams also participated in the Pennies for Pets fundraiser to support the North Shore Animal League. Teams joined in at the walk at Eisenhower Park, cheering on the participants that day. We were able to raise $1,133.50 for this event.
We kicked off our winter season with a toy drive to support the Ronald McDonald house to provide new, unwrapped toys for children in need at the holidays. Over 100 toys were donated on behalf of Section 8 Cheerleading.
Coming up, Jess and the committee have planned a food and personal item drive to support Long Island Cares. This event will take place in January. Teams are encouraged not only to donate items but also their time by volunteering and delivering items in need.
Sometimes people don’t see past the pom poms, but our Nassau County cheerleaders work hard both on and off the mat to support those in need within our community.
