Number of Participants: 16
Hours Donated: 15
Value of Time Served: $2,028
Event Amount Raised: $10,250
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Sport: Girls Soccer
School: Mechanicville Jr/Sr High School
Date: October 3, 2022
Location:
Mechanicville
NY, USA
About:
Every year our senior girls plan our fundraising event for the season. This year they wanted to raise money for organizations that provide supportive care to cancer patients. Therefore, they choose Ronald McDonald House and NYOH Community Cancer foundation. Once they decided the cause, who they would raise their money for, they begin to build and design their event. Their first step is to go to local businesses asking for donations which are used to pay for t-shirts. The shirts are designed by the girls and the sponsors are listed on the back. This year they sold over 250 t-shirts. They also had a car wash, and shined up several vehicles. They had a stand at the req soccer fields one weekend, where they sold baked goods, cotton candy, snow cones, tshirts, pens, did face painting, held a soccer shootout, and more. The girls collected 10 donated baskets with a variety of items and raffled them off. Lastly, they hosted the official event at their soccer game, where they continued to sell items, have a raffle, and the best part of the night is the ceremony. Each player escorts a cancer survivor on the field and honors that person with a symbolic flower of love and support. At the end of the ceremony we release balloons to our “angels in the sky” that unfornately did not win their battles with cancer. It is an incredibly moving and powerful ceremony that the team really embraces. This year we collected $10,250. $5,000 was given to NYOH Community Cancer Foundation and $5,250 was given to the Ronald McDonald House. To conclude our mission, we went to Ronald McDonald House and volunteered our time as a team helping to clean the inside the house, rake leaves, do some outdoor work, and any other task that the workers needed. We also were able to meet some of the families and heard their stories. Our last stop was at NYOH Community Cancer Foundation where we presented their check. One of the Oncologist came to greet the girls to show his appreciation and give them an understanding of what the money will be used for. The whole experience is something that the girls truly value, and are always excited to participate in. They understand the importance of community service and have a true appreciation for the life lessons that it teaches. In my opinion, as a coach, this is their greatest win of their season.