Staff reporter
WILMINGTON – Concluding their most successful fundraising year ever, the students of St. John the Beloved School collected more than $14,500 during the 2013-14 academic year, school officials said.
The St. John the Beloved student council, consisting of 40 students in grades 3-8, organized the projects.
The largest donation of the year went to the B+ Foundation. The school donated $10,000 to B+. Much of the money came through the Students Joining the Battle Against Cancer fundraiser, which was held April 7-11. The week included a dance-a-thon for pre-K through second-grade students on April 9, a bowling pin tournament for grades 3-8 on April 10, and Color Wars Day on the 11th.
Guest speakers at St. John the Beloved that week included Joe McDonough of the B+ Foundation and Carey Pauley of SavannahStrong. Both are parents of children who died of cancer.
“This year was our most successful one,” said Mena O’Brien-Roache, the student council moderator. “I feel both honored and privileged to work with our school’s student government.”
Other organizations that benefited from student council fundraisers include the parish food closet; the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Delaware chapter; the Delware Humane Association; Neighbors to Nicaragua; the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund; the Franciscan Sisters’ Retirement Fund; Birthright of Delaware; and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Additionally, 24 Easter baskets were made and given to the Ministry of Caring for distribution at the Emmanuel Dining Room.
