Number of Participants: 29
Hours Donated: 18
Value of Time Served: $18,160
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Activity: Girls Volleyball
School: North Salem Middle/ High School
Date: October 17, 2025
Location:
North Salem Central Middle/High School
June Road, North Salem
NY
About:
When the North Salem High School volleyball teams take the court in October, they’re playing for something bigger than a win.
For over ten years, the North Salem volleyball teams have dedicated October to community action, raising thousands of dollars for breast cancer research for the Side-Out Foundation. This year, they’ve already surpassed their $5,000 goal, and they’re only looking upwards.
“Bringing attention to this is extremely important for awareness purposes, research purposes, and keeping it on people’s minds,” said senior Bella, who hopes her team’s efforts will also encourage more people to get screened for cancer.
Their impact extends far beyond the court. “I continued to be awed by how supportive our community and the surrounding communities are every year during our campaign,” said volleyball coach Toni Fiore. “Many of the people we meet at our events have their own stories of how breast cancer has affected their lives and their loved ones’ lives.”
This year’s fundraising kicked off at Bobo’s Cafe, where the volleyball teams served coffee in exchange for donations, followed by a car wash at the Croton Falls Fire Department. The momentum built throughout the month, with “Pink Out” games featuring student-athletes wearing pink socks, face paint, and dyed hair.
“This is more than just North Salem, it’s bigger than that,” said senior volleyball player Allison. “It’s all of us working towards one common goal, together.”
For Bella, the cause carries special meaning. She has stepped into a leadership role that her older sister Gigi (‘23) once held, bringing the same energy and enthusiasm that inspired the team in previous years.
“It’s a legacy between my sister and me, carrying on that tradition,” Bella said. Reflecting on what motivates her, she added, “Don’t expect others to give as much as you will. Do it because you want to. Do it because it matters to you.”
“I am consistently impressed by Bella’s leadership, her maturity, and her drive,” said Fiore. “Her efforts and her passion for this cause motivate all of us to want to do more and to give back as much as possible.”
