VHHS presents $25,000 to Children's Harbor

The Student Government Association of Vestavia Hills High School presented $25,000 to Children’s Harbor at the school’s fall-fundraiser assembly on Thursday.

Students, faculty and representatives from Children’s Harbor gathered in the high school gymnasium to celebrate students’ fundraising efforts throughout the fall semester.

Children’s Harbor provides services to children and families who face long-term illnesses and stays in the hospital. In-hospital services include resources for crafts, games and activities, as well as counseling and educational support. It also provides camping and retreat facilities at Lake Martin to give families and other organizations a chance to reconnect and build memories.

The funds raised by VHHS students will go toward many of Children’s Harbor’s programs, including one specially chosen by the students: Project Beanie Baby. The initiative will provide 14,000 children admitted to Children’s of Alabama Benjamin Russell Hospital with special Beanie Baby toys.

Each of the Beanie Babies will have a special tag with a link to a video recorded at Thursday’s assembly of students cheering for patients.

Children’s Harbor CEO Myrle Grate expressed his gratitude for the students’ hard work and dedication to the project.

“These families would not be affected if it weren’t for support from people just like you,” Grate said to students in his remarks.

“The Children’s Harbor staff and I have talked again and again about how overly impressed we are with Vestavia Hills High School.”

Grate thanked the students who visited the hospital center, the Homecoming Court and all of the students who gave their time, energy and resources.

“You guys have literally raised the bar on what it means to be a Children’s Harbor supporter,” he said.

Students raised funds and collected items throughout the fall semester, particularly through their Powder Puff Football and Homecoming activities.

Also in attendance at the assembly was Amanda DeRocher, whose family has been involved with Children’s Harbor because of her daughter’s prolonged hospital stays.

“The family center was literally our saving grace,” DeRocher said, while describing her family’s months-long experience after her daughter’s tracheotomy surgery. 

“I spent so many days in the hospital room, that sometimes going to the family center to get a meal was the only interaction I had with non-medical personnel.”

High school SGA president Ashlyn Lovell said the best part of the project was telling Children’s Harbor what the school was able to accomplish and seeing the impact it would have on children and their families.

“We went on a tour, got to see everything they did, and how we would be affecting Children’s Harbor and the money they would need,” she said. Lovell also said this is the greatest amount the school has been able to raise, narrowly topping last year’s fundraising.

In addition to the tangible impact the fundraising will have for Children’s Harbor, SGA sponsor Martha Manley said she thinks the importance of the students’ work goes even further.

“It gives them to see that there is so much more to life than just being self-serving,” she said.

“It gives them an opportunity to reach out to others and put others before themselves and learn the value of serving others.”

For more information about Children’s Harbor and opportunities to get involved, visit childrensharbor.com or call (334) 857-2133.