Derby Academy Eighth Grader Raises Over $10K For Boston Children's Hospital

eighth grader Regan O'Donnell and her classmates’ hard work paid off.   On Monday, Regan had the pleasure of presenting the  Boston Children's Hospital with a check worth more than $10,000 from donations she collected during the school year for the hospital's Activity Fund, which pays for non-medical expenses for the patients.

The money will pay for toys and books for the hospital’s sick patients.

Back in December, Regan along with Derby’s Class of 2012 raised the money by creating Christmas ornaments that they sold throughout the community. 

“[The money] will pay for books and toys and magic shows,” Regan said.  “I was just thinking of what it would be like if I had to be in the hospital and I feel like those toys and all those things would be the most important when you’re there.”

Regan also had a bake sale, and a "Wear What You Want Day," during which students could be out of dress code if they made a donation to her project, Derby Academy confirmed. 

She presented Tara Hardemon of the Boston Children’s Hospital on Monday with a checkfor $10,267.25. Later that morning, Regan was surprised by the Derby Middle School student council who donated an additional $400 to her cause from their various fundraising efforts, raising the grand total of monies raised to $10,667.25 to benefit Children’s Hospital.

Regan, a 13-year-old Cohasset resident was the recipient of Derby Academy’s Edward R. Foley Citizenship Prize, which is awarded each spring to a seventh grade student who exhibits the best principles of respect and kindness to others.

As the recipient of the award, Regan was given $2,500 budget to conduct a school-wide service project to benefit a cause of her choice. Regan was also required to include all of her classmates in the project.

Andrea Archer, Head of School at Derby Academy said  Regan was selected by the academy’s faculty for her leadership abilities. 

“We really believe the kids learn a tremendous amount from giving back to the community,” Archer said.

Regan  invited the 45 students from Derby’s entire eighth grade class to her Cohasset home to hand paint 400 ornaments and  are currently selling them  for $15 each. She had also created a brochure and order form for customers. She has presented the brochures all over the school and passed out the order forms to students and faculty.

Regan’s goal was to raise $5,000 from the project, but with the help of separate donations from parents, neighbors, friends and family exceeded her goal and had raised  over $10,000.

“It’s been an incredible success,” Archer said. “She has done an amazing job of presenting it and following through with the project.  There has been a phenomenal buy-in from the whole eighth grade class.”