KCHS junior is leukemia society’s fundraising ‘student of the year’

Through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) newest innovation in fundraising, Students of the Year, five motivated Knoxville high school students raised more than $42,545 for LLS’s cutting-edge cancer research and patient services.

Gabriela Sweet, a junior at Knoxville Catholic High School, raised the most funds and earned the title of “Student of the Year” as well as a college scholarship. This “fundraising superstar” raised funds to support LLS’s goal to find cures for blood cancers and ensure that patients have access to lifesaving treatments.

Students of the Year is a seven-week philanthropic leadership development program during which students foster professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and project management in order to raise funds for LLS, the world’s largest nonprofit fighting blood cancers. The title of Student(s) of the Year is awarded to the candidate or co candidates in each community who raise the most funds during the competition.

Gabriela ran an incredible fundraising campaign, which involved making personal asks, sending letters and e-mails to friends and family, selling ads for the Grand Finale program book, hosting a neighborhood tailgate party, and organizing a proceeds night at Painting With a Twist. She dedicated her campaign to a family friend, who is a 10-year
leukemia survivor.

“Congratulations to Gabriela and all of our candidates, supporters, and volunteers who helped to make the 2020 Students of the Year campaign a huge success,” said Jeff Parsley, executive director for LLS’s Tennessee Chapter.  “These incredible students did an amazing job raising funds, especially during this unprecedented time with the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact they are making in their communities will help patients here in Tennessee and also help LLS advance new treatments for childhood leukemia using precision medicine and immunotherapy.”

To learn more about LLS’s Students of the Year program and how to get involved, visit www.studentsoftheyear.org.

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