Campbell’s Flutterflies Host St. Baldrick’s Event
Campbell’s Flutterflies Host St. Baldrick’s Event
On the evening of March 7, 2024, the Somerset Hills community gathered at Bernards High School for a special event, to raise money for a special reason, in honor of a special person… Campbell Hoyt.
The Campbell’s Flutterflies Club began 10 years ago by Caitlin and Caroline Hoyt, whose younger sister died from a rare brain/spine cancer called anaplastic ependymoma. Her death was felt throughout the community, but her legacy has lived on this past decade through events and fundraising led by the Team Campbell Foundation and Campbell’s Flutterflies, with all monies being donated to childhood cancer research.
This fall, after the Flutterflies went dormant for several years, two of Cam’s friends approached Flutterflies advisor Janice O’Brien with an interest in restarting the club. Andalora and Sofia Parente suggested hosting a St. Baldrick’s event at the high school. That nationally recognized foundation has a mission to conquer childhood cancer. Their head shaving events are held all over the US to raise money for grants and research.
From September through early March, the Parente sisters organized the fundraiser, with the help of O’Brien, as well as BHS teachers Kelly Clark and Heather Hunkele. They sought out volunteers willing to have their hair shaved, and went to local establishments to garner support. From the generosity of many local businesses, in-kind donations were contributed for raffle and door prizes. The students and staff who volunteered to have their heads shaved, were given a QR code for donations. To gain excitement throughout Bernards High for this fundraising event, the participants were divided into teams, with themes, colors, and inspirational songs. Once the original goal of $10,000 was met, a new goal was set at $15,000, which was also exceeded before the actual event was even held!
It was indeed a special evening where students, friends, family, and members of the Somerset Hills community united. They remembered Campbell, and were part of something important. The combination of the community’s presence, participation, time, and donations had a positive outcome, and one that has the potential to evoke change in the lives of children who valiantly battle cancer. As O’Brien shared, “We are amazed at the outpouring of generosity, in Campbell’s name, from so many. We raised over $23,000. But more importantly, it brought a community together, because that is what people do; they show up for each other.”
Although Campbell Hoyt, a member of the class of 2024, lost her cancer battle, she lives on in numerous hearts and is a presence in the community. As spring unfolds, and you drive by the Administrative Offices on Olcott Ave, you will see her colorful Pinwheel Project Garden, set up annually by the Team Campbell Foundation to honor her life and the 46 children who are diagnosed with cancer every school day.
Special thanks to the Hoyt family and the Team Campbell Foundation; to Campbell’s Flutterflies and event organizers Andalora Parente, Sofia Parente, Janice O’Brien, Kelly Clark and Heather Hunkele; to the emcee Spencer Saltz and the DJ Milo DiSabato; to the students, staff, and parents who volunteered to get shaved for such a good cause: Matt Falzarano, Gabe Morales, Chris Petersen, David Brothers, Atticus Palmer, Logan Ritchie, Caden Kirst, Mitch Dakin, Brendan Lobo, Ari Rosen, RJ Bubnowski, Andrew Och, Milo DiSabato, Trevor Sardis, Troy Stauffer, Charlie Gonella, Greyson Meyer, Kelly Clark, Peter Mathus, Scott Parente, and Jeffrey Falzarano; and to the JWalker Salon for their excellent team of barbers.