The New Hope-Solebury annual fundraising effort for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation culminated on Saturday, May 14 with the first in-person community event in three years.
Members of the community visited the Upper Elementary School for carnival games, arts and crafts activities, silent auction items and raffle prizes, food trucks, a bounce house, and of course, to cheer for more than 60 students, staff, and local residents on-stage “braving the shave” to support pediatric cancer research.
“It was so great to see so many smiling faces, old and new – and after a three-year hiatus, it was like we never skipped a beat. I thank everyone for showing up and supporting our community,” said Laurie Palau, the event director.
Thanks to the event and support from donors, the New Hope-Solebury St. Baldrick’s fundraiser will donate $175,000 to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation this year. This brings the effort’s cumulative total donated to approximately $1.4 million. For the past three years, the New Hope-Solebury fundraiser has been the highest grossing fundraising event for St. Baldrick’s in Pennsylvania and is one of only 78 St. Baldrick’s efforts nationwide to cross the $1 million cumulative threshold.
The New Hope-Solebury St. Baldrick’s fundraiser was launched as a communitywide event in 2015 following the loss of two students to cancer, students Ethan Toohey and Robert Nagg. St. Baldrick’s is a national nonprofit organization providing the resources to support fellowships in pediatric cancer research.
Susan Heard, the St. Baldrick’s senior director of distinguished giving expressed gratitude on behalf of the organization. “All of us at the St. Baldrick’s Foundation – from the researchers that receive funding to the families who have a next step in their treatment plan – are absolutely filled with gratitude for the entire New Hope-Solebury community.”
During Saturday’s event, it was evident how the community rallies together to support this cause. Elementary students shaved their heads and played carnival games led by high school student volunteers. Local barbers donated their time to shave heads and cut 8 inches of hair to be donated to the BeYOUtiful Foundation. Local businesses provided corporate sponsorships, raffle baskets, silent auction items, and donated to a special vendor fair selling their locally made goods. The all-hands-on-deck model is key to its incredible and longstanding success.
To learn more about the New Hope-Solebury St. Baldrick’s effort and to consider volunteering, contact director Laurie Palau at laurie@simplyborganized.com or follow them on social media at @nhssavinglives.
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