On the Thursday before Memorial Day, as everyone gets ready to celebrate the holiday weekend, Hope Hall’s students, staff and faculty come together to take part in the school’s Walk for Hope. This annual event is a fundraiser for the school, and it not only promotes health, it is also a student-driven initiative in which the kids help raise funds toward their own education.
Established in 1994, Hope Hall is a private, non-sectarian, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit school for students in grades 3-12 who experience frustration in a traditional classroom setting. Students come to Hope Hall with various medical and neurological disorders including ADD, ADHD, anxiety disorders, forms of Autism, and Central Auditory Processing Delays. The school is committed to the belief that when given respect and enough time in a supportive learning environment, all students can become successful learners.
In this year’s May school newsletter, Sister Diana Dolce put out a call asking for “Sole Mates” for the many students who might find it challenging – especially during this year when COVID and inflation are both concerns – to raise the $100 minimum each participant is encouraged to try to raise.
Donations from “Sole Mates” responding to the call came flooding in, to help ensure each child will be able achieve his or her $100 goal. Some donors requested that their donation be distributed to the groups of two, or 10, or 20 students who need it most, and others asked that Sister Diana use her discretion in distributing the funds. One donor, who asked to remain anonymous, provided each of the school’s 140 children with a starting “kick off” donation of $5, to launch his or her fundraising efforts.
“This is the only fundraiser of the year in which our students are asked to actively participate, and the fact that so many generous people stepped in to help them is heartwarming,” said Sister Diana.
She went on to add, “The kids go to great lengths to be successful fundraisers. They set up fundraising pages, and invite those they know to contribute. Our fifth graders even came up with the idea for micro-businesses to raise funds as a class.”
Because the school receives no funding from New York State or the 17 school districts from which the students come, the need is all the greater for innovative fundraising measures so that all students who can benefit from the school’s unique model of education can attend. No family pays full tuition for students attending Hope Hall. Currently, 50% of Hope Hall’s families live at, or below, the poverty level, and 85% experience serious financial burdens. That means that student, staff, faculty and community participation is critical in helping to raise the funds needed to provide students who have learning challenges with the education they need and deserve.
Community Members who would like to become “Sole Mates” to Hope Hall students can send donations to: Advancement Department – Hope Hall School, 1612 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624.
For those who would like to get involved in the Walk for Hope, there is still time to form a team and schedule a Walk for Hope anytime during May, or if they prefer, they can set up a fundraising page and invite friends and family to donate. They are also welcome to make a donation, or to contribute in-kind gifts, such as gift cards ranging from $5 to $25 to businesses such as Target, McDonalds, Five Below, Walmart, and other family-friendly businesses that will be used as prizes for students achieving or exceeding their goal. For more information about the Walk for Hope, visit: https://hopehall.org/walk-for-hope/.
Provided information and photo
