Padua Franciscan High School sets new record: $41K raised for charity

Celeste Houmard
·2 min read

*Attached video: Cleveland Clinic pediatric patient becomes Grinch in adorable video

PARMA, Ohio (WJW) – Students at Padua Franciscan High School have hit a new school record for holiday donations, helping families and charities in need.

In the month of December, students, staff and alumni raised $41,041 in cash as well as thousands of other donations during the 52nd annual Christmas For Others Charity Drive.

National signing day: Meet the 2024 OSU football recruiting class and watch Ryan Day’s reaction to a top recruit signing

The Christmas For Others charity drive is the largest student-run fundraiser in Northeast Ohio and has raised over $500,000 for charity since 1971.

This holiday season, in just 20 minutes during the school’s Coin Wars competition, $9,585 was collected.

Donations were raised in multiple ways including: canned goods collection; the Italian Club’s spaghetti dinner; the Spanish Club’s nacho sales; the Art Club’s handmade jewelry sale; and a student versus faculty volleyball game.

The school also held a blood drive, from which donated blood helped save 93 lives.

Powerball jackpot reaches $572M: How much would a winner get?

“As we celebrate our 52nd year of Christmas For Others, I am so very proud of our Padua Franciscan community for its continued dedication to giving back to those in need,” President Dave Stec said. “Through the fun and competitions of CFO, our students learn that their sacrifice and donations make a real difference for those less fortunate. CFO transforms Padua students to be lifelong givers, knowing their generosity, even in small ways, changes our world.”

The money and donations were distributed during the CFO Liturgy on Wednesday for non-profits, inner-city schools, local food pantries and animal shelters including:

  • A Special Wish

  • Advent for Others/All Faiths Pantry

  • Birthcare of Medina County

  • Catholic Worker House

  • El Salvador Mission Trip (COAR)

  • Journey Center for Safety and Healing

  • Kid’s Book Bank

  • Matt Talbot Inn

  • May Dugan Center

  • Parma Animal Shelter

  • Parma Hunger Center

  • Promise for Haiti

  • Providence House

  • St. Francis School (Cleveland)

  • St. Herman’s

  • SubZero Mission

  • West Side Catholic Center

  • William Cosgrove Center

For more about the Christmas for Others charity drive, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.