School: Lakeland Senior High School (Lakeland, Florida)
Sponsor: Scott Brickhouse, North Lakeland FSU Chick-fil-A
Project overview: A community-wide fundraising event to create baskets of toys for a local children’s hospital in honor of a 10-year old girl who passed away in their community.
A Community Rallies for a Touching Cause
We recently had the privilege of speaking with Crystal Abdon and a student about their Chick-fil-A Leader Academy™ impact project, “Aubrey’s Baskets of Hope.” This inspiring initiative, born from a local tragedy, saw students come together to bring comfort and joy to children battling cancer.
A Legacy of Love
Lakeland Senior High School was inspired after the tragic passing of a 10-year old girl in their community, Aubrey Hutson. Aubrey bravely fought cancer and her journey was widely followed on social media. Her family shared how many children in hospitals are often alone during treatment due to insurance and parental work schedules, which fueled the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students at Lakeland Senior High’s desire to make a difference.
Shifting Gears for a Greater Purpose
Initially, the class had considered a project involving their local hospital’s pediatric unit, but Aubrey’s passing during their spring break prompted a powerful shift in focus. The students decided to channel their efforts into “Aubrey’s Baskets of Hope,” aiming to collect toys and assemble baskets to deliver to the hospital. Their initial goal was to create 24 baskets, but their community’s generosity allowed them to far exceed this, ultimately assembling over 50 baskets, with many additional toys left over!
Overcoming Challenges with Creativity
While the project was met with overwhelming support, the students noted that a challenge was ensuring all students understood Aubrey’s story and the profound purpose behind their fundraising efforts, especially for those who hadn’t followed her journey. To engage the wider school body, they devised creative fundraising methods:
T-Shirt Sales: They sold pink spirit shirts, which proved incredibly popular and quickly sold out, generating significant funds.
“Pie in the Face” Fundraiser: A particularly fun and successful initiative involved raising money to pie one of their administrators in the face – a hit with the students!
Shopping Wish Lists: The students curated an online wish list with items they believed would be beneficial for children undergoing treatment, allowing community members to directly donate toys.
The project raised an impressive $1,500 from t-shirt sales alone, with additional funds from the “pie in the face” event and a substantial amount of donated toys.
A Heartwarming Impact
The day Aubrey’s family came to collect the baskets and toys was a deeply emotional and rewarding experience. Aubrey’s family was filled with gratitude and assured these Chick-fil-A Leader Academy students that their efforts would bring comfort to other families facing similar struggles.
Lakeland Senior High School exemplified genuine investment in a cause and not just completing a class assignment. Through their Impact Project, these students learned valuable lessons in empathy and the power of even the smallest acts of kindness. “Aubrey’s Baskets of Hope” was a testament to the students’ dedication, the community’s generosity, and the lasting legacy of a young girl who inspired so much good.