On Nov. 22, 2024, the Bioscience Academy began its annual candy cane drive at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), a fundraiser dedicated to raising money for the National Marrow Donor Program, (NMDP), formerly known as “Be The Match.” Donation sites were available in every science classroom on campus, where students could donate $1 or more and be rewarded with the delight of a festive candy cane.
This fundraiser is run by HOSA Service, a committee within the Bioscience Academy that is dedicated to connecting students in the academy to causes outside of the school. Mika Anderson, the advisor of the fundraiser, explained, “[The candy cane drive] is all student led, however, there are a lot of rules we have to work with when donating money like compliance issues and so forth, so I help navigate them through all the logistics of that.”
Anderson facilitates the meetings of the HOSA Service committee, guiding them in the correct direction, yet it is the students who make it all come to pass. The spearhead of this fundraiser, Vivian Ryan ‘25, reaffirmed the effort and commitment that Bioscience takes, stating, “It takes a lot of coordination within our committee: we have to have volunteers willing to donate to the cause, there’s a lot of paperwork involved, and there’s a lot of preparation in terms of the process of getting it started, approved and setting it up with Be The Match.”
Students join the Bioscience Academy for a variety of reasons, whether they want a career in science, a career in healthcare or they are simply determined to challenge themselves with the rigor of the classes. However, Bioscience is more than choosing a career based on financial gains, it is about connecting with people and trying to benefit humanity with the skills that students acquire during their years in the academy.
Anderson affirms this, saying, “This specific fundraiser allows students to participate in something bigger and a little more difficult than an organized blood drive, what they do here makes an impact on the community.”
At this year’s annual School of Choice Night, the impact of this fundraiser was visible. The HOSA booth was decorated with an array of infographics, themed pencils and most notably, a pile of Be The Match stickers.
Aditi Shanbhag ‘25, a member of Bioscience, recalls the incident: “A parent recognized the Be the Match stickers and stopped by the booth to talk to us. She told us that someone very close to her, a family friend, was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. At 7 years old, she had a transplant surgery after she had matched through the Be The Match foundation.” The girl who received the transplant is now 22 years old, healthy due to a bone marrow transplant through NMDP.
Aadhya Bavkar ‘25 commented on this experience, saying, “All these fundraisers at school, they don’t have a tangible impact as to who we are helping, other than monetary proceeds. To see an actual person who had such a close connection to someone impacted by the very cause we are supporting was really motivating and inspiring.”
Despite the impacts of the cause throughout Bioscience and in the community, the fundraiser itself would benefit from some vital improvements. Ryan suggested, “If we could have more advertising for the fundraiser that would be really great in raising more funds, however the fundraiser has always been successful either way.”
This festive fundraiser came to its end on Dec. 13, 2024, ceasing the distribution of candy canes. After a final count, it was revealed that Bioscience raised $629 from donations, and $542 after expenses, a great sum that will shortly be collected and donated to NMDP.
