WEST CHESTER, PA — This spring, West Chester Area School District’s East High School students combined their event planning, marketing, and networking skills with tremendous musical talent to shine a spotlight on the importance of supporting the community. At the 12th annual House of Hope Concert, student singers, dancers, and bands pumped up the volume to raise over $7,000 to benefit the Home of the Sparrow, an organization that partners with local women and children facing homelessness.
The House of Hope Concert is a student-organized event with the student-led planning committee meeting weekly to organize tasks such as designing posters, advertising to the public, hosting auditions, and preparing the venue. Student organizers, Jacob, Saanvi, and Daniel, appreciated the opportunity to work as a team while bringing the event to life.
“It honestly took an entire village to put this concert together, and it was heartwarming to see the entire community come together to support such a good cause. In addition to supporting Home of the Sparrow, we were also pleased to give these incredible performers the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a crowd,” said the three East High School students.
It is thanks to the behind-the-scenes work and fundraising efforts of these students that audience members like Luanne Sims were “blown away” at the concert. “The students put a tremendous amount of work into curating, rehearsing, and designing the show, which resulted in wonderful energy in the room and a very successful fundraising effort for Home of the Sparrow,” said Sims.
Through ticket sales, online donations, and donations made during the concert, the student organizers exceeded their original fundraising goal and provided over $7,000 to Home of the Sparrow. Home of the Sparrow utilizes these donations to provide housing support, access to educational opportunities and improved employment, financial literacy, and life-skills training. Through initiatives like the Graduate Program, Supportive Housing, Pre-Senior Bridge, WRAP, and Emergency Solutions, they provide access to local resources, counseling and parenting support, and affordable housing solutions and companionships.
“The House of Hope Concert is such a wonderful and outstanding event to be a part of each year,” said Kathleen Sanger, Home of the Sparrow’s Director of Development. “We always look forward to working with young philanthropists – it is such a delight!”
The student organizers and all those in attendance for what Sims described as a “beautiful night of music and dance benefitting a wonderful cause” are already looking forward to the excitement and generosity that next year’s House of Hope Concert will bring to the West Chester Community.
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