Hats On Day

Hats On Day is a fundraiser for The Foundation for Children with Cancer.  It is a simple concept; students/faculty/staff pay $1.00 to wear a hat in school for the day.  They receive an “official” sticker that acts as a receipt for their pledged support.  All the proceeds are sent to the foundation.

We participated in a “Hats On Day” last year at our school.  Our students had a blast wearing all types of hats.  Some students simply donated and wore the sticker.  It was great to see students promoting the day and in some cases, donating more than the required $1.00.  The event was sponsored by our student council (I am the advisor).  This event could be sponsored by any student group, class, or even by the faculty/staff.  We are currently planning a date to do it again.

Below is a complete description of what ‘Hats On Day” is all about.  The information is from http://www.childrenwithcancer.org/?page_id=95 .

What is Hats On Day?

Hats On Day was founded in 1995 by four sixth-graders in St. Louis, Missouri. They began the fundraiser when their friend and classmate Kevin Beffa was diagnosed with a type of childhood cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Kevin had been a bright, happy child with a passion for soccer. When he got sick, he began to miss school, had to give up his favorite sport, and lost all of his hair from treatment. Kevin also needed a bone marrow transplant, so Hats On Day was planned to show support for Kevin during his suffering and to raise money for his surgery. However, just days before the event, Kevin passed away.

The founders have continued in Kevin’s memory with the aim of creating awareness about children undergoing chemotherapy and related issues like hair loss, illness, and missing school. From 1995 to 2008, the fundraiser has grown from just a few participating schools to schools across the country. The funds raised are used to make young cancer patients’ daily lives more comfortable as they deal with this disease. When you participate in Hats On Day, you make life happier for children with cancer and show compassion for the many difficulties young cancer patients face.

Hats On Day has grown to be one of the most influential and profitable fund-raisers among school age children, raising over $700,000 in the past 10 years.

In the 2007-08 school year, Hats on Day has raised $257,629 with over 700 schools reporting from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

I know the students at my school enjoyed the immediate effect of the fundraiser.  We signed up students all week during lunch periods and then handed out the stickers on the day of the event, in our lobby, before the school day began.   In one day, we raised money for children’s cancer and felt like we made a difference.  

_____________________________________________________

Be sure to check out the “idea of the week” and “website of the week” at www.energizetheclassroom.com .

-Paul Richmond

 E.T.C