Schools
Villa Joseph Marie's Student Dance Marathon To Fundraise For 'Think Hope'
The annual Hope-A-Thon benefits the foundation aimed to "unleash the power of hope in the world" in memory of Maria Middleton.
SOUTHAMPTON, PA — For the second year in a row, students at a Bucks County high school will dance for seven hours to raise funds in memory of their late classmate.
Hope-A-Thon is Villa Joseph Marie High School's fundraiser for the Think Hope Foundation, an organization aimed to "unleash the power of hope in the world" in memory of class of 2021 student Maria Middleton, who died from an inoperable brain tumor.
"'Think Hope' were the last words Maria Middleton wrote in her daily journal," her parents, Susan and Brian Middleton, wrote of the foundation they started in her honor.
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Each of the 320 students participating in the dance marathon — almost the entire school — will raise a minimum of $75 each in donations to the foundation. Hope-A-Thon includes meals, speakers, line dancing, games, and activities from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 29.
Event co-chairs Sammy Froman, Ashley May, Julia Cassidy, and Brooke May are in charge of additional fundraising. Last year, the school raised $96,458.08 total.
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"We had a car wash, we had restaurant nights, we sold bundt cakes," Brooke told told Patch. "Last year we sold 1,800 bundt cakes and this year we sold 2,200 bundt cakes."
Middleton was instrumental in conceptualizing the fundraising dance marathon during her time at Villa, her peers said.
"The ministry basically just carries out her work on earth," Ashley said. "She’s up in heaven now, but her parents are on earth carrying out that mission of hope."
Her community is there to support that mission.
"We also have around 70 captains and point people," Cassidy said. "So girls do just also want to get involved, and want to help in planning the event, too. We just have a lot of school spirit and a lot of girls who really love the cause and really want to participate."
The school is expecting about 200 guests total who are friends and family of dancers.
Those who wish to donate can do so online, by Venmo @VillaJosephMarie, or with checks made out to Villa Joseph Marie High School.
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