One St. Joseph’s student wanted to bring attention to breast cancer awareness month by wearing pink highlights to school. After finding out that the highlights didn’t adhere to the dress code, the fourth-grader discussed her desire with her principal and together they thought about other ways to make an impact. Mia Kaczmarski, teamed up with friend Hanna Kuniewicz, and set out to get their entire school community involved in a positive endeavor.
The pair got together at the local Starbucks to plan the event. They decided on a school-wide dress down day, where faculty, staff, and students alike could wear pink (or any other color) to school in exchange for a $1 donation. They wrote and presented the idea to their school community via morning announcements. Mia’s mother, Kimberly, is a Compliance and Quality Manager at the Cancer Center, which is where the students decided the money would be donated.
The fundraiser took place on Thursday, October 26 and raised $511 for Shore’s Cancer Center. The students’ effectively spread the word about the event, leading to almost 100% participation by school employees and students. Afterwards, they made sure to thank everyone who participated for their donation and spreading awareness.
On Monday, November 20, Mia and Hanna presented a check to Joseph Johnston, Administrative Director of Oncology Services at the Cancer Center and David Hughes, CFO and Chief Development Officer to benefit Shore’s Cancer Center. To learn more about the Cancer Center, visit www.shoremedicalcenter.org/centers/cancer. To donate, call Shore’s Planned Giving and Development department at (609) 653-3800.
About Shore Medical Center At Shore Medical Center, located in Somers Point, NJ, kindness complements an extraordinary level of clinical sophistication. People are the foundation of this modern medical center where advanced technology harmonizes with compassionate care. Shore Medical Center attracts the area’s best physicians, nurses and clinicians, and is the first and only hospital in New Jersey and one of 86 healthcare organizations worldwide to earn Designation as a Planetree Patient-Centered Care Hospital®. Recognized for its dedication to patient safety, Shore has received seven consecutive “A” grades in The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score since Fall 2014. Shore Medical Center is home to six Centers of Excellence for Cancer, Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Spine and Orthopedic, Emergency and Maternity and Pediatric care. Shore’s affiliations include Penn Medicine, Onsite Neonatal Partners, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Advanced ICU Care, Mayo Medical Laboratories, and Advanced Radiology Solutions. In addition, Shore is a member of the Jefferson Neuroscience Network and has physicians on staff from the Rothman Institute. In 2011, Shore opened its Pediatric Care Center, the first of its kind in New Jersey, and its state-of-the-art Surgical Pavilion and Campus Expansion. The Shore Medical Center Planned Giving & Development team (www.GivetoShore.org) creates and implements dynamic philanthropic programs that support the mission of Shore Medical Center. For more information about Shore Medical Center, visit www.ShoreMedicalCenter.org.
