Cardinal O’Hara High School Raises $6,300 for HEADstrong

By: Jennifer Hoffman 

Cardinal O’Hara High School, a Delaware County, PA based co-ed Catholic school, has been relentless in their 2020 fundraising efforts. Despite the worldwide pandemic that shut down the school, the students and faculty continued to raise money for the HEADstrong Foundation’s mission of improving lives affected by cancer.

Throughout the school year the fundraising committee planned a variety of events to help raise funds for the selected charities. These events included dine and donates at various restaurants in Delaware County, movie nights, bake sales, “Lion’s Bowl at Sproul Lanes”, and football fundraiser during the fall. The biggest event of the year, the Danny Hammond Dance Marathon, was unfortunately cancelled because of COVID-19, but COHS students, faculty, friends and families showed their true HEADstrong spirit by continuing to fundraise  despite the current circumstances. 

Bella Cipresso, the chair of the leadership committee at COHS has a personal connection to HEADstrong’s mission and felt compelled to fundraise in honor of a close family friend. “My mom’s best friend’s daughter, Brielle Barber, passed away from cancer when she was just six years old. Her mom is very important to me and my life. She’s done so much good after losing her daughter and has truly changed her whole life. She is a big inspiration to me and I wanted to help any way that I could,” she expressed.

The total amount raised over the course of several fundraisers was $6,300 which will help continue the foundation’s mission of improving lives affected by cancer including the growing occupancy at Nick’s House. HEADstrong is very thankful to have Cardinal O’Hara as a fundraising partner and we commend them for their efforts!