Nazareth Academy High School raised $207,734.67 as part of its annual Naz-A-Thon, bringing the total raised since 2014 to more than $1.5 million.
Money from the April 10 event will go to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, specifically the Child Life Department and the Matthew Charles Houder Endowed Fund for Pediatric Orthopedic Research.
“CHOP is the best place to go if you need them,” said senior Kate Shelinsky, the Senior Executive of Operations for the event.
Shelinsky worked with other student leaders and faculty moderator Cheryl Sylvester to make the event a success.
There was a cornhole tournament and water ice sale during a Wildwood beach day in July, a 3-on-3 soccer tournament in November and dine outs leading up to the big day in the school gym.
Fox 29’s Bob Kelly broadcast live from the event, and state Sen. Joe Picozzi and Barbera Cares each delivered $1,000 checks.
The day featured dancing, face painting, dodgeball, relay races, ring toss, rock paper scissors, a lip sync battle, a DJ, a performance by the XWF Band, a visit by Holy Ghost Prep students and the taping of phys ed teacher Nick Nolen to a wall..
Money was also raised through raffles, a 50-50 and T-shirt sales.
The girls heard from miracle families like the McVeys. Angelina McVey, a student at St. Hilary of Poitiers, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 3 in October 2020. The tumor shrunk thanks to 14 months of treatment at CHOP, visits to the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Germantown and Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown and prayer to St. Padre Pio.
Senior Lilie Orapello shared how CHOP treated her for the autoimmune condition known as HSP.
At the end, students took the stage to reveal the record-setting amount raised at Naz-A-Thon.
“It’s my favorite day of the year,” Shelinsky said. ••
