Student-led fundraising and awareness for local charity
Villa Park, Ill. — October 23, 2018 — At a check presentation ceremony, student-athletes from IC Catholic Prep delivered $2,012.48 to Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley (DFV) to cap off a successful student-led fundraiser and awareness campaign.
Seniors from the class of 2020 and teammates on the Knights football team, Tommy Ryan, Kevin Cooke, Tommy Lamborn, Kevin Akins, Matt Cira and Jack Ryan presented the check to Easterseals DFV President and CEO Theresa Forthofer, Vice President of Development Eric Johnson and Relationship Coordinator Amy Liss. Joining the Knights seniors at the check presentation were IC Catholic Prep Principal Tom Schergen and Athletic Director Michael Fahey.
This fundraiser is in its second year and culminated with a coin toss by Easterseals ambassador, Abby Snyder, at the beginning of the Knights football game on Friday, September 27, 2019. “She made our ‘Whiteout with Easterseals’ a very special game and she gave our fans a lot to cheer for,” said Tommy Ryan, a four-year player and Captain, responsible for organizing the fundraiser.
Last year, Tommy interned at the Easterseals DFV Pre-K Program and he described it as a formative experience where he developed a relationship with and affinity for the mission of Easterseals. He noted that he “…really learned that we can change the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day. I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at Easterseals, it was a great experience.”
He was inspired to do more and find a way to involve his teammates and his classmates at IC Catholic Prep. “As a student at ICCP, I wanted to act on the lessons we learn about community service and giving back,” said Tommy. “I had a lot of help from my mom—Mary Beth (Haggerty ’81) Ryan—and together we worked with the ICCP development office, Easterseals and other community members to design, print and sell t-shirts to raise money and awareness for independent living.”
“We were excited to help out with the fundraiser again this year,” said Mary Beth Ryan. “And, we are extremely proud of Tommy and his capacity to help others and to lead with the goal of making a positive impact in our community.”
One of the core tenets of a catholic-based education is to learn the value of giving back to your community, both in service and with resources, noted Tom Schergen, IC Catholic Prep principal. “On behalf of IC Catholic Prep, we are proud of all of our students for their commitment to community service and excellence in and outside the classroom. We hope the relationship will only continue to grow throughout the years.”
Although this year’s fundraiser is complete, the Knights football season wraps up regular season play this Friday, October 25, at Riverside-Brookfield. Game time is 7:15 p.m. They will begin 4A playoff games the first week of November.
IC Catholic Prep is the oldest Catholic, coeducational college prep high school in DuPage County. Located in Elmhurst, ICCP is a regional high school that serves students from over thirty-eight communities.
Media contact: David Terry, 630-530-3494
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