Friday’s Naz-A-Thon was a smashing success, as Nazareth Academy High School raised $167,774.32 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Specifically, the money will go to the Child Life Department, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Acquired Autonomic Dysfunction Program.
The annual Naz-A-Thon began in 2014 – COVID canceled it in 2020 and 2021 – and the girls have raised about $1.2 million for CHOP over the years.
Cate Lamplugh was the Senior Executive of Operations for this year’s Naz-A-Thon. She was backed by a 36-member executive committee and support from almost all of Nazareth’s 330 students.
“The executive team was very proactive. They were the best. They helped out in every way,” Lamplugh said.
Planning for this year’s Naz-A-Thon began at the end of last school year and continued into the summer and this school year.
“It was definitely worth it,” Lamplugh said. “It was all for a good cause.”
While students run Naz-A-Thon, Cheryl Sylvester has been the faculty moderator from the beginning, when the committee was made up of just five girls.
“They do an amazing job. They really step up,” she said. “It’s year-round fundraising and planning. This is the day they look forward to all year long.”
A team from CHOP was on hand to cheer on the girls.
“They have full school involvement and have raised over a million dollars for CHOP,” said Lisa Rabbitt, CHOP’s associate director of youth and school fundraising. “We work together, but they’re pros at this. This is our largest school fundraiser.”
Naz-A-Thon went from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The girls dressed in colorful outfits and danced in the gym. They got an assist from some Holy Ghost Prep students, as the band Open Season played and Michael Holt served as DJ.
The event featured cornhole, Jenga, face painting, dodgeball, more than 50 raffle baskets, a raffle for tickets to a Zach Bryan concert and appearances by CHOP “miracle” families, the Dunkin’ Cruiser and Swoop.
The girls secured numerous sponsors, including a $10,000 gold sponsorship from Sheet Metal Workers Local 19. Students organized nights at the Phillies, Flyers and 76ers. Money was also raised by the girls paying to smash a whipped cream pie into the faces of teachers. ••
