Community Corner

Fremd Students Share the Love On Valentine's Day for ACS Through Cookie Fundraiser

Two juniors at Fremd High School partnered with Cookie Cards and held a fundraiser called "Spread the Love, Find a Cure" and sold Valentine's Day cookies to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Two Fremd High School juniors are carrying the torch for a special, Valentine's Day-themed fundraiser.

The "Spread the Love, Find a Cure," fundraiser is an outgrowth of a 2012 initiative created by then Fremd senior, Priyal Amin.

Amin joined forced with Palatine-based Cookie Cards to sell heart-shaped cookies before Valentine's Day, to raise funds for the Hoffman Estates Fire Department to purchase a defibrillator (AED). 

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Amelia West and Allie Oakes picked up the idea this year, and again partnered with Cookie Cards to create and sell Valentine's Day-themed cookies to Fremd students and teachers.

Their goal was to donate money raised to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The two were able to raise $500 through their Valentine's Day cookies sales, which took place over the last month.

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And on Valentine's Day, the cookies will be delivered, complete with a signature Valentine's Day message, to students and teachers throughout the high school. 

A long history of working with ACS was one of the motivating factor for both young women. 

"I've been involved with the American Cancer Society ever since I was 6 years old and I always love to try to find different ways to help out," Oakes said.  

ACS has given us so much over the past few years and now that we're old enough to be planning our own fundraisers, it feels amazing to be able to give a little bit back to them, she said. 

Cookie Cards was very interested in continuing the partnership, due to the association with ACS, and for the opportunity to support the students in their goal to help others. 

"We wanted to continue to encourage these young people to give back," said Kerri Callahan, who owns Cookie Cards with her mother Marti. "The American Cancer Society is also close to our heart, we have many family members and friends who have dealt with cancer, and it is an unbelievable support for those who fight this disease." 

Callahan added that herself and her mother are hopeful the fundrasier continues each year, and new students will join on in 2014 to make it bigger and stronger. 

"This fundraiser has been especially fun for us because we were able to reach out to such a large number of students who don't know a lot about the American Cancer Society," West said.  

Not surprisingly, West and Oakes both have a lengthy background in giving back to others.

The choir and theatre students have been on the executive board for Fremd's Service Over Self Club for the last two years and on the committee for the Relay for Life of Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Inverness (PRMI) since 2008.

This year, both young women are youth co-chairs on the PRMI committee. 

"Having an accessible, fun fundraiser right around Valentine's Day was a great way to reach the high school community in a way that was really meaningful to everyone involved," West said. 

Congratulations on a spectacular effort by Amelia and Allie, looks like both of these young women are headed for great things in the future!~Palatine Patch


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