How sweet it is.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Department of Communications Disorders, Special Education, and Disability Services broke fundraising records again this year during its eighth annual “Confections for a Cause” bake sale and surpassed the $10,000 fundraising mark.
This year's sale raised $1,630–the highest total to date–for ovarian cancer education and research. This bring the total amount raised to $10,690 in eight years of the event.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. “Confections for a Cause” features hundreds of baked goods and sweets of all types, from pies to chocolates, all made by members of the university community.
Funds raised go to the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation Inc. based in Havertown.
The event got its start because members of the department, including Shari Robertson and Celia Barber, wanted to honor Vickie Johnson, administrative assistant in the department, who had lost family members to ovarian cancer.
“I've said it every year, but it bears repeating: this is not just a bake sale,” Robertson said.
“When a bake sale raises more than $10,000 for a cause in just eight years, it says something very special about our community and how much this community cares for one another. Not only does this community come out to support Vickie, but they also understand the tragedy of losing loved ones to this terrible disease. Ovarian cancer is under-studied, and there are very few events such as this to raise funds,” Robertson said.
“We continue to be so grateful to our community for their commitment to this event and to this cause, and we're thrilled to hit this $10,000 milestone.”
In addition to individual students and faculty, a number of student groups “were instrumental in the success of this year's event,” Robertson said. They are: National Student Speech, Language, Hearing Association; Council for Exceptional Children; Audiology Student Association; Sign Language Club, and Best Buddies.
Photo information: students Deni Fabina, Madison Gorrasi, and Santina Schiaretta, members of NSSHLA, show off some of the items donated for this annual fundraising event.